How to Read a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods

The IATA Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) is the single most scrutinised piece of paper in air freight. Every box on the form has a regulatory basis in IATA DGR section 8 and the ICAO Technical Instructions Part 5; an error in almost any box is grounds for rejection at the acceptance counter. This guide walks through the form block by block.

Header — Shipper, Consignee, AWB

• Shipper: full name and address. Must match the air waybill.
• Consignee: full name and address. PO boxes alone are not acceptable.
• Air Waybill Number: matches the AWB issued by the carrier or forwarder.
• Page of Pages: e.g. "1 of 2". Multi-page declarations must be numbered.

Aircraft limitations

Two checkboxes: Passenger and Cargo Aircraft or Cargo Aircraft Only. Strike through the option that does not apply. The choice must be consistent with every UN number listed in the body — if any item is forbidden on passenger aircraft, the form must be CAO.

Airport of Departure / Destination

Three-letter IATA airport codes (e.g. JFK, FRA). Not city names.

Shipment Type

Non-Radioactive or Radioactive. Strike out the option that does not apply. A shipment cannot include both on the same form.

Nature and Quantity of Dangerous Goods (the body)

The columns, in order, are mandated:

1. UN or ID No. — preceded by "UN" or, for North American-only entries, "ID".
2. Proper Shipping Name — exactly as in the DGL. Technical names in parentheses where required by Special Provision A2.
3. Class or Division — primary class first, subsidiary risk(s) in parentheses.
4. Packing Group — Roman numerals (I, II, III).
5. Quantity and type of packing — number of packages, type (drum, fibreboard box, etc.), net quantity per package with units. "1 fibreboard box × 5 L".
6. Packing Instruction — the IATA PI number that governs the packaging used.
7. Authorisation — special provisions, exemption numbers, A88 references.

Additional Handling Information

Free-text block. Used for items like the lithium battery air waybill statement, overpack information, salvage packagings, dry ice net mass, and emergency contact phone (if not stored in the dedicated 24-hour ER number block on operator-specific forms).

Emergency Contact

24-hour telephone number monitored by a person with knowledge of the hazards of the materials being shipped. Generic switchboards are not acceptable. CHEMTREC, INFOTRAC and equivalents satisfy this requirement when contracted.

Shipper's Certification

The signed declaration that "the contents of this consignment are fully and accurately described above by the proper shipping name, and are classified, packaged, marked and labelled / placarded, and are in all respects in proper condition for transport according to applicable international and national governmental regulations". Followed by the shipper's name, title, place, date and signature.

The most common rejection causes

1. Proper shipping name missing the technical name where SP A2 applies.
2. Subsidiary risk omitted from the class column.
3. Net quantity per package missing the unit (kg, L).
4. "Approximate" quantities — quantities must be exact.
5. Wrong PI number for the configuration (Section II vs Section IB confusion).
6. Aircraft limitation checkbox inconsistent with the entries.
7. Missing 24-hour emergency phone.
8. Photocopied or digitally signed where the operator requires wet ink.
9. Page numbering missing on multi-page forms.

For lithium-specific declaration rules see the lithium battery shipping guide. For the broader fine landscape see common hazmat shipping mistakes that cost $25,000+.