122 terms in 6 topics
Chemical trade glossary
Short, plain English definitions of the words that come up when you buy, sell and ship chemicals, from GHS hazard labels and pharmacopoeia grades to Incoterms, customs documents and lab tests.
122 terms
A4 terms
- ACS gradeGradesLaboratory reagent that meets or exceeds the specifications in the American Chemical Society's Reagent Chemicals.
- Anti dumping dutyTradeAn extra import duty on goods from specific countries or companies that are exported below their normal value and harm local industry.
- AR grade (analytical reagent)GradesHigh purity laboratory chemical for analytical work, with tight and stated limits on impurities.
- AssayLabA quantitative test for the content of the main substance, and the result of that test on a certificate of analysis.
B5 terms
- Batch number (lot number)LabA code that identifies a quantity of product made in one production run, used for traceability.
- Bill of entryTradeThe import declaration filed with Indian customs, usually through a customs broker on ICEGATE.
- Bill of lading (BL)TradeThe document a sea carrier issues for cargo, serving as a receipt, evidence of the contract of carriage and, if negotiable, a document of title.
- BIS quality control order (QCO)RegulatoryAn Indian government order that makes a BIS standard and licence mandatory for a product before it can be sold or imported.
- BP grade (British Pharmacopoeia)GradesMaterial that meets the British Pharmacopoeia monograph. The BP includes all European Pharmacopoeia monographs.
C16 terms
- CAS registry number (CAS RN)LabA unique numeric identifier assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to a chemical substance, such as 7732-18-5 for water.
- CDSCORegulatoryThe Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India's national regulator for drugs, medical devices and cosmetics imports.
- CEP (certificate of suitability)RegulatoryA certificate from the EDQM confirming that an API's quality is suitably controlled by the European Pharmacopoeia monograph.
- Certificate of originTradeA document certifying the country where the goods were produced, needed for customs and for preferential duty under trade agreements.
- Certified reference material (CRM)LabA reference material with a certified value and uncertainty, traceable to a stated reference, used to calibrate and validate methods.
- CFR (Cost and Freight)IncotermsThe seller pays sea freight to the named destination port, but risk passes when the goods are on board at the port of shipment.
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)RegulatoryThe international treaty banning chemical weapons, which controls listed toxic chemicals and precursors in three schedules.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)IncotermsLike CFR, with the seller also buying minimum cargo insurance for the voyage.
- CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)IncotermsLike CPT, with the seller also buying cargo insurance, at the all risks level of Institute Cargo Clauses (A) under Incoterms 2020.
- CLP RegulationRegulatoryThe EU regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, based on the GHS.
- CMR substancesGHSSubstances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.
- COA (certificate of analysis)LabA batch specific quality document listing the tests performed, the specification limits and the actual results.
- Commercial invoiceTradeThe seller's final invoice for a shipment, used by customs to assess duty and by banks for payment.
- CosIngRegulatoryThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients and their status under the EU Cosmetics Regulation.
- Cosmetic gradeGradesIngredient quality suited to personal care products, usually supplied with an INCI name and limits on impurities.
- CPT (Carriage Paid To)IncotermsThe seller pays carriage to the named destination, but risk passes when the goods are handed to the first carrier.
D9 terms
- DA (documents against acceptance)TradeA documentary collection where documents are released when the buyer accepts a bill of exchange to pay at a later date.
- Dangerous goods classTradeOne of nine UN transport hazard classes, from class 1 explosives to class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods.
- DAP (Delivered at Place)IncotermsThe seller bears costs and risk until the goods arrive at the named destination, ready for unloading.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)IncotermsThe seller delivers to the named destination, cleared for import with duties and taxes paid.
- Demurrage and detentionTradeCharges for keeping a carrier's container beyond the free time, inside the terminal (demurrage) or outside it (detention).
- DMF (Drug Master File)RegulatoryA confidential file submitted to the US FDA with detailed information on how an API, excipient or packaging is made and controlled.
- DP (documents against payment)TradeA documentary collection where the buyer's bank releases the shipping documents only when the buyer pays.
- DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded)IncotermsThe seller delivers the goods unloaded at the named destination. It replaced DAT in Incoterms 2020.
- Drug precursorsRegulatoryChemicals that can be used to make narcotic or psychotropic drugs and are controlled under the UN 1988 Convention and national laws.
E6 terms
- EC numberRegulatoryA seven digit identifier (format 123-456-7) used for substances in the European Union.
- Electronic gradeGradesUltra high purity chemicals for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, with trace metals controlled at very low levels.
- Elemental impuritiesLabTrace metals and other elements in a product, controlled for medicines by ICH Q3D.
- EP grade (European Pharmacopoeia)GradesMaterial that meets the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) monograph, legally binding in its member states.
- EUH statementGHSSupplemental hazard phrases used on labels in the European Union in addition to GHS H statements.
- EXW (Ex Works)IncotermsThe seller makes the goods available at its own premises and the buyer handles everything else, including loading and export clearance.
F8 terms
- FAS (Free Alongside Ship)IncotermsThe seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, alongside the vessel at the named port of shipment.
- FCA (Free Carrier)IncotermsThe seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the buyer's carrier at a named place.
- FCC grade (Food Chemicals Codex)GradesMaterial that meets the Food Chemicals Codex monograph, a widely used standard for food ingredients.
- FCL and LCLTradeFull container load, where one shipper uses a whole container, and less than container load, where cargo shares a container.
- Flash pointGHSThe lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite briefly in air when a flame is applied.
- FOB (Free on Board)IncotermsThe seller delivers the goods on board the buyer's vessel at the named port of shipment, cleared for export.
- Food gradeGradesMaterial that meets a recognised food additive or food ingredient specification and is made under food safety controls.
- FSSAIRegulatoryThe Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which licenses food businesses including makers and importers of food additives.
G13 terms
- Gas chromatography (GC)LabA separation method for volatile compounds, used for solvents, residual solvents and many organic intermediates.
- GHS (Globally Harmonized System)GHSThe UN system for classifying chemical hazards and communicating them through labels and safety data sheets.
- GHS pictogramsGHSNine standard hazard symbols (GHS01 to GHS09) shown on chemical labels and in section 2 of the SDS.
- GHS01 exploding bombGHSPictogram for explosives, self reactive substances and organic peroxides that can explode.
- GHS02 flameGHSPictogram for flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids, and for self heating or pyrophoric materials.
- GHS03 flame over circleGHSPictogram for oxidising gases, liquids and solids that can cause or intensify a fire.
- GHS04 gas cylinderGHSPictogram for gases under pressure, including compressed, liquefied, refrigerated and dissolved gases.
- GHS05 corrosionGHSPictogram for chemicals that corrode metals, burn skin or cause serious eye damage.
- GHS06 skull and crossbonesGHSPictogram for acute toxicity categories 1 to 3, which can be fatal or toxic after a single exposure.
- GHS07 exclamation markGHSPictogram for less severe health hazards such as irritation, skin sensitisation and harmful acute toxicity.
- GHS08 health hazardGHSPictogram for serious longer term health hazards such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity.
- GHS09 environmentGHSPictogram for substances hazardous to the aquatic environment.
- GMP (good manufacturing practice)RegulatoryRules for making medicines, APIs, food and cosmetics so that every batch is consistently produced and controlled to its quality standard.
H5 terms
- Halal certificationRegulatoryCertification by a recognised body that an ingredient and its production meet Islamic dietary requirements.
- Hazard statement (H statement)GHSA standard phrase with an H code that describes the nature and degree of a chemical's hazard.
- HPLCLabHigh performance liquid chromatography, the most common method for assay and impurity testing of organic chemicals and APIs.
- HPLC gradeGradesSolvent of very high purity with low UV absorbance and low residue, made for high performance liquid chromatography.
- HS codeTradeThe six digit Harmonized System code customs authorities use to classify traded goods.
I15 terms
- IATA DGRTradeThe IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations airlines follow for carrying dangerous goods by air, based on the ICAO Technical Instructions.
- IBC (intermediate bulk container)TradeA reusable container of about 1,000 litres, usually a plastic bottle in a steel cage on a pallet, used for liquids.
- IEC (Importer Exporter Code)TradeThe ten character code issued by India's DGFT that a business needs to import or export goods, linked to its PAN.
- IMDG CodeTradeThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the mandatory rules for carrying dangerous goods by sea.
- Impurity profile (related substances)LabThe identity and amount of impurities in a material, often measured by HPLC as related substances.
- InChILabThe IUPAC International Chemical Identifier, an open text string that describes a chemical structure in layers.
- InChIKeyLabA fixed length 27 character hashed form of the InChI, used to search and link chemical records, for example LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N for ethanol.
- INCI nameRegulatoryThe International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients name used on cosmetic ingredient lists worldwide.
- Incoterms 2020IncotermsThe ICC's eleven standard trade terms that set who pays for and bears the risk of each step of delivery.
- IP grade (Indian Pharmacopoeia)GradesMaterial that meets the monograph of the Indian Pharmacopoeia, the legal drug standard in India.
- ISO 14001RegulatoryThe international standard for environmental management systems.
- ISO 9001RegulatoryThe international standard for quality management systems, certified by independent certification bodies.
- ISO tankTradeA stainless steel tank in a standard 20 foot container frame, used to ship bulk liquids and gases.
- ITC(HS) codeTradeIndia's eight digit version of the HS code, used in import and export policy and customs declarations.
- IUPAC nameLabThe systematic name of a chemical built by the nomenclature rules of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
J1 term
K2 terms
L5 terms
- LD50 and LC50GHSThe dose (LD50) or air or water concentration (LC50) expected to kill half of a test population, used to rank acute toxicity.
- Lead timeTradeThe time from order confirmation until the goods are ready to ship or delivered, depending on how it is quoted.
- Letter of credit (LC)TradeA bank's undertaking to pay the seller when the seller presents documents that comply with the credit's terms.
- Loss on drying (LOD)LabThe percentage of mass lost when a sample is dried under set conditions, covering water and other volatile matter.
- LR grade (laboratory reagent)GradesGeneral purpose laboratory chemical of reasonable purity, for teaching, synthesis and qualitative work.
M5 terms
- Molecular formulaLabThe number of atoms of each element in a molecule, such as C2H6O for ethanol.
- Molecular weight (molar mass)LabThe mass of one mole of a substance in grams per mole, calculated from its formula and standard atomic weights.
- MOQ (minimum order quantity)TradeThe smallest quantity a supplier will accept for one order.
- MSDS (material safety data sheet)GHSThe older name for a safety data sheet, still widely used in trade.
- MSIHC Rules, 1989RegulatoryIndia's Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
O1 term
P7 terms
- Packing groupTradeThe degree of danger of a dangerous good in transport: I high, II medium, III low.
- Packing listTradeA document listing each package in a shipment with its contents, batch numbers, net and gross weights and dimensions.
- PESORegulatoryIndia's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, which licenses storage and transport of petroleum, explosives, compressed gases and ammonium nitrate.
- Pharmacopoeia monographGradesThe official standard for a medicine or ingredient in a pharmacopoeia, listing its tests and acceptance limits.
- Precautionary statement (P statement)GHSA standard phrase with a P code that tells users how to prevent or respond to a chemical hazard.
- Proforma invoiceTradeA preliminary invoice that sets out the offer before shipment, used to confirm the order, open an LC or make an advance payment.
- PurityLabHow much of a material is the stated substance, usually given as a percentage and measured by a defined method.
R5 terms
- REACHRegulatoryThe EU regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.
- REACH only representative (OR)RegulatoryAn EU based person appointed by a non EU manufacturer to register substances under REACH on its behalf.
- Residual solventsLabTraces of process solvents left in a product, limited for pharmaceuticals by ICH Q3C.
- Retest date and expiry dateLabThe date by which a material should be re tested before use (retest) or after which it should not be used (expiry).
- RFQ (request for quotation)TradeA buyer's request asking suppliers to quote price and terms for a defined product, quantity and delivery.
S8 terms
- Safety data sheet (SDS)GHSA 16 section document from the supplier describing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, emergency measures and transport.
- SCOMETRegulatoryIndia's export control list of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies.
- Shipping billTradeThe export declaration filed with Indian customs before goods are loaded for export.
- Signal wordGHSThe word Danger or Warning on a GHS label, showing the relative severity of the hazard.
- SMILESLabA line notation that writes a chemical structure as a short text string, such as CCO for ethanol.
- SpecificationLabThe list of tests, methods and acceptance limits a product must meet, agreed between supplier and buyer or set by a standard.
- STOT (specific target organ toxicity)GHSA GHS hazard class for effects on particular organs after a single exposure (SE) or repeated exposure (RE).
- SVHC (substance of very high concern)RegulatoryA substance identified under REACH as having serious hazards, placed on the ECHA candidate list.
T4 terms
- TDS (technical data sheet)LabA supplier document describing a product's typical properties, specifications, applications and use instructions.
- Technical grade (industrial grade)GradesCommercial quality for industrial use, with a basic specification and no food, pharma or lab claims.
- TSCARegulatoryThe US Toxic Substances Control Act, under which the EPA keeps an inventory of chemicals allowed in US commerce.
- TT (telegraphic transfer)TradeA direct bank wire transfer, used for advance payment or payment after shipment.
U2 terms
W1 term
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