raczoliver Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I currently live in Beijing, where the only popular developer I can get is D-76. I'm going home to Hungary this Summer for a couple of weeks, and thought of bringing some rodinal and paterson accutol with me. Does anyone have experience in taking developers with them on plane? Is it allowed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raczoliver Posted July 14, 2004 Author Share Posted July 14, 2004 Sorry, the statement that D-76 was the only developer here was untrue, but there is not a big choice. Also, if someone knows better than me, and rodinal or accutol are available in Beijing, would you please tell me where? Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I recently brought a factory-sealed, 5-liter pack of Xtol from the US to Korea in my checked luggage with no problems. Don't know if liquid developers would fare as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_milner2 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I don't have personal experience. The US government web sites detailing forbidden and allowed items make no specific mention of photographic chemistry, but poisonous or caustic items are not allowed. Some photo chemistry is poisonous. You would be better off with dry stuff packed in the check-in luggage than wet stuff in your hand baggage. Can you not get stuff delivered into China? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Using strict definitions of poisonous or caustic, such common items as shampoo, aftershave, deodorant, etc. would probably not be allowed on a plane. I figured if they pulled it out and tossed it, I'd just accept the loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kott Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Oliver, I have taken developers in my checked baggage, no problem. But with all the chemistry stores in China, You can find all the chemicals you need to mix up a very wide variety of developers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig_Cooper11664875449 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Hi Oliver, I just dropped in at Wande photostore in Cuifu Jiadao off Wangfujing this week and they'd sold out of D-76 and said it wuld be at least another month before they had some more. They only had Microdol-X. The store next door - XSH - only has Tmax RS and Xtol - had to settle for Xtol this week! Carrying the stuff on a plane shouldn't be a big issue as it a rather harmless concoction. Are you taking any orders for carrying additional back... :)) regads Craig / Beijing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrik Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Hi all, I'm an airline pilot. The chemicals involved with photographic development and printing are listed as dangerous goods by the International Air Transport Agency (IATA). The fact that some people check these chemicals in with the rest of their bags does not make it legal, this is omitted declaration. The specific airline that you use should be contacted before travel to clear items with them. Some cariers may carry just about anything as long as it is packed in acordance with United Nations laid down procedures - others will not take ANY dangerous goods. Remember, you may think that your container of chemicals aren't dangerous, but if it comes into contact with other chemicals, animals or airplane parts and/or systems the outcome may be catastrophic. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_lee3 Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 I just left Beijing a couple of weeks ago, and found their security to be quite reasonable. However, they have one practice which is may be quite problematic for you. When you get your carry on luggage x-rayed, they specifically look for bottle/containers of any kind, and open them all and take a smell. I presume they are looking for flammable liquids of some kind. In the case of darkroom chemicals, I don't know if they would let them on or not. They don't smell like hydrocarbons which are commonly found, but they sure aren't run of the mill things like water, juice, and sodapop. They would most likely err on the side of caution and stop them from being carried onto the plane. Better put your stuff into checked baggage. The strange thing, is they will stop you from carrying alchohol through the x-ray check point, but you can purchase duty free liquor in the shops immediately afterward... Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.W. Wall Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 "pilot" and "catastrophic" = WARNING!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorn ake Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 Powdered chemicals seem like a good answer. Plenty of good ones in powder and you can ziplock baggy them for protection. I would keep them sealed (obviously) and pack the original receipt in with them in your checked luggage. I brought Diafine along last time, which comes in tins, and my bags were unpacked and repacked by the Feds. They took my peanut butter but left the chemicals. Must have been lunch time at Homeland Security. A lot of plane crashes caused by photographic chemicals in the hold then? Most by technical malfunction/flaw or pilot error I think. We love fear too much in this world right now perhaps.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_lofquist Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 They might object if you tried to turn one of the toilets into a darkroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kshearon Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Regarding the opening of containers by Chinese customs, they have been known to take more stringent precautions to prevent the spread of SARS. They may ask you to consume or dispense with almost any liquid. Don't think they would expect you to drink D-76 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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