A dangerous goods (DG) declaration is the transport document in which the shipper describes the dangerous goods and certifies that they are correctly classified, packaged, marked, labelled and in proper condition for transport. For sea freight, its content is set by the IMDG Code.
The shipper signs it. In most Indian chemical exports, that is the manufacturer or exporter named as shipper on the bill of lading. The shipping line and the buyer do not sign it, and signing carries legal responsibility.
What the declaration contains
- The UN number, proper shipping name, class and, where assigned, the packing group.
- The technical name of the hazardous component, where a generic n.o.s. entry is used.
- The number and type of packages and the total quantity of dangerous goods.
- Any subsidiary hazards, the marine pollutant status and the flash point where relevant.
- An emergency contact and any special stowage or temperature requirements.
- The shipper's signed statement that the goods meet the rules.
The container packing certificate
For containers, a second signature is needed. The person responsible for packing the container signs a container packing certificate. It confirms the container was clean and fit, the goods were packed and secured correctly, segregation rules were followed, and the container is properly marked and placarded.
Both are often combined on one multimodal dangerous goods form. If a third party stuffs the container at a warehouse or freight station, that party may sign the packing certificate while the exporter signs the declaration.
Air freight is stricter
For air shipments, the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods must follow the IATA format. The person who signs must be trained under the air rules. A forwarder can sign only where it legally acts as the shipper and has trained staff. Airlines also check the declaration line by line and reject forms with errors or corrections. Check this with your forwarder, and read shipping hazardous chemicals by air.
Why it matters to you as a buyer
A wrong or missing declaration can mean a refused booking, a container held at port, fines for the shipper, and in the worst case an incident at sea. Mis-declared DG cargo is a known cause of vessel fires, which is why carriers now check bookings closely.
Ask to see a draft declaration before the booking is confirmed. Check it against section 14 of the SDS and the marks on the packages. It belongs in the document pack your broker will ask for. If anything differs, the shipper must correct it and sign again. For legal questions, the shipper and its forwarder should confirm with the carrier's DG desk or the port authority.
Next step
We review DG documents against the product and its packaging before loading, and supervise the stuffing of the container. To start, book a free sourcing review.