Trade Documentation
Dangerous Goods Declaration
Also known as: DGD, Hazmat Declaration
A dangerous goods declaration is a formal document in which the shipper certifies that hazardous materials have been correctly classified, packaged, marked, labeled, and documented in accordance with the applicable international transport regulations for their mode of carriage. Because mis-declared hazardous cargo endangers lives and can cause catastrophic accidents, carriers and authorities enforce the rules strictly, and errors can bring heavy fines, refused shipments, and liability. The declaration identifies each substance by its proper shipping name, hazard class, and identification number, and confirms that packaging and quantity limits have been respected.
The area where getting it wrong is a safety matter before it is a compliance one. Classification, packing and documentation follow mode-specific rules, and an undeclared hazard inside a container is the kind of thing that ends in a casualty investigation.
Where it matters for compliance
- IMDG for sea and IATA DGR for air. Both require trained, certified preparation of the declaration.
Related terms
Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.