DG (Dangerous Goods) Declaration

Dangerous Goods (DG) Declaration is a mandatory compliance procedure in international trade for the transport of dangerous goods. It refers to the shipper or their agent submitting detailed information about the dangerous goods (such as UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, flash point, marine pollutant, etc.) to the carrier, port, or customs before booking or shipment, and declaring that the goods have been packed, marked, labeled, and documented in accordance with international regulations (e.g., IMDG Code, IATA DGR, ADR). Use cases include sea, air, land, and multimodal transport, especially common in the export of chemicals, lithium batteries, paints, alcohol, etc. Precautions: Must declare in advance (usually 7-10 days ahead), provide dangerous goods packaging certificate, MSDS, packing certificate, etc.; misdeclaration or concealment may result in fines, cargo detention, or even criminal liability. Unlike general cargo declaration, DG declaration requires additional carrier approval, and rules vary by transport mode (e.g., sea follows IMDG, air follows IATA). Difference from 'dangerous goods identification': identification determines whether the goods are dangerous and their class, while declaration is the formal submission of information to authorities or carriers to obtain permission.