The 3 Documents Every Vape Shipment Needs: MSDS, UN38.3, COA
August 27, 2026 · LAFA Editorial
Every vape order moves faster when the paperwork is complete. Three documents do most of the work: MSDS for material safety, UN38.3 for battery transport, and COA for analysis. They do not replace your responsibility to confirm the rules in your market — but a complete document set removes the friction at customs and with your own customers.
1. MSDS — Material Safety Data Sheet
The MSDS describes the physical and chemical properties of the product and its contents, including hazard warnings and handling instructions. Shippers, carriers, and customs brokers ask for it routinely. It is the document that tells everyone in the chain how to handle and transport the product safely.
2. UN38.3 — Battery Transport Test Report
Vape devices and pods contain lithium batteries, which are classified as dangerous goods for transport. UN38.3 is the standard set of tests a battery must pass to be shipped safely by air or sea — thermal, altitude, vibration, shock, and short-circuit testing among others. Carriers typically require the UN38.3 summary report before accepting battery-powered goods.
3. COA — Certificate of Analysis
The COA is issued by the factory or an independent lab and states what is actually in the product — nicotine concentration, base liquids, and that contaminants are within limits. Where available, it gives the buyer and their customers confidence in what they are selling.
4. Why a Complete Set Saves You Time
Missing documents are the most common reason a vape shipment stalls. Each back-and-forth with a broker or carrier costs days. When a supplier ships with MSDS, UN38.3, and COA included as standard, the buyer avoids the email chain and the delay.
One important boundary: import compliance and customs clearance remain the responsibility of the local importer. A reliable supplier provides the documents and states clearly what they do and do not guarantee. Anyone who promises 'no customs risk' is not being straight with you.
Bottom Line
Before you place an order, ask which documents ship with it. MSDS, UN38.3, and COA cover the safety, transport, and content questions that come up again and again — and having them ready is the difference between a smooth restock and a stuck container.