Dangerous goods — from lithium batteries in electronics to flammable chemicals in industrial manufacturing — require precise handling and documentation. Transporting these supplies is a high-stakes process governed by strict international and domestic regulations.
Businesses must ensure compliance by providing detailed hazard classification, appropriate packaging, and emergency handling procedures. Without this information, your shipment could be delayed, fined, or even deemed illegal to transport.
Let’s break down everything you should know about when you need a dangerous goods declaration, how to fill it out correctly, and best practices for compliance.
Key highlights:
A dangerous goods declaration (DGD) is an official shipping document required for hazardous materials (HAZMAT) transport. This documentation ensures proper shipment management along the supply chain and provides comprehensive information about its contents, including the potential safety concerns it poses for shippers and the general public.
It’s important to note that the terminology used to describe the required paperwork for shipping HAZMAT can vary depending on the transportation mode and governing body. While some organizations call it a “HAZMAT declaration,” others use the term “dangerous goods declaration.” Still, both serve the same fundamental purpose: ensuring the safe and compliant transport of substances that pose risks to health, property, or the environment.
Key components of a DGD include:
Without a complete and accurate DG declaration, carriers may reject cargo, causing shipping delays and — depending on the scenario — heavy fines from regulatory agencies.
Read our complete guide on HAZMAT shipping compliance.
A hazardous goods declaration is important because it reduces health and environmental risks, prevents costly fines, and instructs workers on handling shipments safely and efficiently.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), approximately 1,500 incidents involving undeclared hazardous materials occur yearly, including severe fires and chemical leaks. Many of these situations, which disrupt the shipping process, could have been prevented with the proper documentation.
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Reasons for DG declaration |
Why it’s important for shipping operations |
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Safety |
Proper paperwork provides the necessary handling instructions for workers to prevent accidents, chemical exposure, explosions, and fires during transport. |
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Legal compliance |
National and international regulations legally require a DG declaration. That’s why having the right documentation helps businesses meet compliance standards, avoiding fines and other issues such as shipment rejections. |
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Environmental protection |
Declaring your dangerous goods helps your carriers and handlers follow the correct storage and transportation protocols, minimizing the likelihood of hazardous spills that cause long-term damage to ecosystems. |
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Risk management |
A hazardous goods declaration specifies critical information that emergency responders use to take action in case of an incident, helping them determine the appropriate way to contain leaks or evacuate areas, for example. |
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Global standardization |
Documentation provides consistent labels and classification across international shipping routes, minimizing inconsistencies and delays. |
A DGD is required when a business needs to ship dangerous goods by any means of transportation, such as air, sea, or ground. Many everyday products or raw industrial materials require a dangerous goods declaration.
Common examples include:
The three most important regulatory frameworks governing the shipment of hazardous materials by air, sea, road, and rail are:
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) established the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for transport over the seas. Since 2004, this regulation has been mandatory for all international ocean freight shipments and is recognized by governments worldwide.
Shipping by sea presents unique risks, including container fires and environmental contamination from spills. Because of these complications, non-compliance with this regulation can result in cargo seizures, heavy fines, and loss of carrier contracts.
The IMDG Code is updated every two years, so DG shippers must stay informed to remain compliant.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) enforces regulations for shipping dangerous goods by air. IATA paperwork is the strictest in the industry, particularly for the commonly shipped lithium batteries. Non-compliant shipments can lead to airline bans, penalties exceeding $250,000, and even criminal charges.
Regulations are updated annually, making ongoing compliance training essential.
In the United States, hazardous materials transported by road or rail fall under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
While DOT enforces federal regulations, some states have additional HAZMAT transport laws that must be followed. For example, a Hazardous Materials Transportation License (HMTL) is required in California, particularly for shipments that require placarding or exceed 500 pounds.
DOT violations can result in fines of up to $179,933 for serious offenses. Carriers that fail inspections can be blacklisted from transporting hazardous goods.
A certified individual must fill out a hazmat declaration form following strict formatting guidelines. For example, red hatch marks should be used on the edges of the appropriate documents for air transport.
Here are the six main components of a shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods and how to properly fill each one of them:
This section provides key details about the hazardous material being shipped. It ensures that the cargo is properly classified and labeled so that carriers, customs authorities, and emergency responders can identify potential risks at a glance.
These details include:
This section’s content must all be in the proper order, with no irrelevant information thrown in between. For example, an entry can look like: UN1993, Flammable liquid, n.o.s. (Acetone solution) 3, III.
An Air Waybill Number is a unique tracking number assigned by the carrier that is also required for air shipments.
The quantity and packaging details determine if a shipment complies with regulatory weight limits and ensures safe transportation. This section should include:
If multiple hazardous materials are shipped together, they must comply with segregation requirements to prevent dangerous chemical reactions. For example:
This section covers the specific packaging requirements for hazardous materials to ensure safe handling. Regulations vary depending on the transport mode (air, sea, or ground) and the type of dangerous goods being shipped. IATA, for instance, has a code for each packaging instruction (PI), like PI 965, which is used for standalone lithium-ion batteries that require strong outer packaging, thermal protection, and short-circuit prevention.
However, packaging compliance shouldn't come at the expense of efficiency. Poor packing choices can lead to higher shipping costs, wasted space, and increased risks during transit. Shipium, a leading shipping platform for enterprise operators, helps businesses meet regulatory compliance by selecting the most efficient packaging configurations for hazardous materials.
Discover how Shipium’s Package Planner API can optimize your cartonization strategy.
Certain hazardous goods, such as radioactive shipments, explosives, or restricted chemicals, require additional approvals and sign-offs to be transported legally. Some international packages may require dual approvals from both exporting and importing countries.
Failure to obtain proper authorization for your dangerous goods shipping declaration can result in legal consequences or mean that you won’t meet the delivery promises initially made to customers, causing client dissatisfaction.
Operators can include additional handling instructions and special provisions to guide transport personnel in the case of specific shipments. Examples include:
The final section of a dangerous goods declaration form requires the responsible individual’s printed name and signature, confirming that the shipment complies with all applicable regulations.
The signatory must hold a valid HAZMAT certificate from an IATA, IMO, or DOT-approved training program and the signing date must be written in an internationally recognized format, such as DD/MM/YYYY, DD.MM.YYYY, or DD/MMM/YYYY. By signing, the shipper takes full legal responsibility for ensuring that the shipment meets all regulatory requirements.
Beyond safety risks, improper DG declarations and cargo mishandling result in financial and operational disruptions. Case in point: in 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $146,500 penalty against an airline company that violated DOT regulations by improperly managing compressed oxygen containers.
Businesses must implement rigorous best practices in training, documentation, and compliance management to avoid these high risks. Follow these strategies to reduce errors and ensure smooth shipping operations:
All personnel responsible for hazardous materials' classification, packaging, and documentation must be properly trained and certified. Training is critical because:
When implementing regular education programs:
HAZMAT regulations frequently change, making it essential to keep DG declarations, safety data sheets, and shipping procedures up to date to avoid non-compliance fines. IATA’s lithium battery shipping rules were revised in 2025, for example, introducing new packaging requirements.
To make sure documentation is updated:
Managing DG declarations is a complex and high-risk process, and errors in classification, documentation, or labeling can lead to many operational disruptions. Given the strict requirements, businesses need a reliable way to ensure compliance while streamlining operations.
Enter Shipium: an end-to-end shipping software that, among many benefits, simplifies the handling of hazardous materials shipping by ensuring that every shipment meets the correct packaging, labeling, and carrier-specific requirements.
The Shipium platform provides:
Request a demo today and discover how Shipium streamlines your dangerous goods declaration process and ensures compliance with national and international regulations.
Only a certified, trained individual can legally sign a shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods. This requirement ensures that someone knowledgeable about HAZMAT regulations is responsible for the shipment’s compliance.
To get certified for signing a HAZMAT declaration, workers must complete training from a recognized authority, such as IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) Certifications.
Yes, lithium-ion batteries — the most common globally transported batteries — are classified as dangerous goods and require a dangerous goods declaration when shipped. This documentation is necessary due to their potential hazards, including risks of short circuits, fires, and explosions if the batteries are damaged or improperly handled.
Key points regarding the transportation of lithium-ion batteries:
Special provisions in dangerous goods (DG) shipping are additional handling, packaging, or documentation requirements for specific hazardous materials, as outlined by IATA, DOT, and IMDG regulations. These provisions modify standard DG classification rules based on the nature, quantity, or transport mode of the goods.
Examples of special provisions: