Excepted Quantity
Excepted Quantity (EQ) is a dangerous goods transport classification for very small amounts of hazardous materials that qualify for reduced regulatory controls when package design prevents accidental release. The substance's alphanumeric EQ code (E0–E5) sets maximum inner and outer packaging quantities; E1 through E5 permit specific gram/milliliter limits, while E0 is prohibited.
In a manufacturing environment, excepted quantities appear when receiving, storing, or shipping small regulated chemical samples, coatings, catalysts, lab reagents, cleaners, or process additives. On the shop floor, these are used for sample retention, line-side trials, quality-control specimens, and pilot-lot transfers. The receiving team must verify the DG classification, EQ code, inner-pack quantity, outer-pack total, and packaging integrity before staging material to production or the warehouse. A practical control sequence is to identify the product's dangerous goods entry, confirm the EQ code, inspect supplier packaging, record regulated quantities in the WMS, then segregate the item so picking, relabeling, or repacking never exceeds thresholds. EQ is not a blanket exemption; it is a reduced-regulatory transport category. Warehouse staff should treat EQ lots as regulated inventory, storing proper shipping name, EQ code, inner/outer limits, packaging type, and shipment mode so the system blocks invalid consolidation.
Is EQ the same as limited quantity?
No. EQ is a separate reduced-regulation pathway with its own alphanumeric code system and stricter small-package limits. Limited Quantity uses different packaging, marking, and documentation rules, and the two classifications must not be confused when shipping dangerous goods.
Does EQ remove all dangerous-goods obligations?
No. EQ reduces packaging, marking, and labeling requirements for very small quantities, but the material remains a regulated dangerous good. Shipments must still meet applicable modal rules, and the receiving/inventory process must verify DG classification, EQ code, inner-pack quantity, outer-pack total, and packaging integrity.
What warehouse data should be stored for EQ lots?
Store the DG proper shipping name, EQ code, inner-pack quantity, outer-pack quantity, packaging type, and shipment mode. With this data in the WMS or MES, system controls can block invalid consolidation, repacking, or over-limit builds that would cause the lot to lose EQ status.