Who signs a dangerous goods declaration?

The shipper or consignor. The IMDG Code requires the certification to be signed and dated by the consignor; US rules accept a principal, officer, partner or employee of the shipper or its agent.

How many copies of the IATA shipper's declaration are needed?

Two completed and signed copies, handed to the operator, according to IATA's own form.

What is the penalty for a wrong hazmat declaration in the US?

Up to $102,348 per violation, or $238,809 if it results in death, serious illness or severe injury, with each day counted as a separate offence under 49 CFR 107.329.

Term

Dangerous goods declaration (DGD)

A dangerous goods declaration is the shipper's signed document giving the carrier each dangerous good's UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, with a certificate that the goods are properly classified, packed, marked and labelled. At sea it is often IMO's multimodal form; by air, IATA's shipper's declaration, handed over in two signed copies.

Also called DGD, shipper's declaration for dangerous goods, multimodal dangerous goods form, MDGF, hazmat shipping papersUpdated 14 October 2026

What it must say

The IMDG Code requires the consignor offering dangerous goods to give the carrier the information for each one: UN number, proper shipping name, class, any subsidiary hazard and packing group — for example 'UN 1603, ETHYL BROMOACETATE, class 6.1, (class 3), PG II'. US shipping papers carry the same basic description, in sequence with nothing else interspersed, followed by the quantity, such as '200 kg' or '50 L'.

Three forms, one job

Where	Document	Signed by
Sea	Dangerous goods transport document; IMO's multimodal form can double as the container packing certificate	The consignor, signed and dated
Air	IATA's shipper's declaration; two signed copies go to the operator	The shipper
United States	Shipping papers with the 49 CFR 172.204 certification	A principal, officer, partner or employee of the shipper or its agent

The US certification reads, in part, that the materials 'are properly classified, described, packaged, marked and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation'. IATA's form adds a declaration that all applicable air transport requirements have been met.

Worked example: one line, and the cost of getting it wrong

UN1203, Gasoline, 3, PG II · 4 drums, 800 L · three violations found → up to 3 × $102,348 = $307,044 in US civil penalties · a violation that causes death, serious illness or severe injury → up to $238,809 each

Penalty caps from 49 CFR 107.329, as amended at 89 FR 106293 (30 December 2024); each day a violation continues is a separate offence. The shipment is illustrative.

The mistake people make

Treating the declaration as the forwarder's paperwork. The certification is the shipper's, and IATA says the greatest risk arises when dangerous goods enter the supply chain undeclared or mis-declared. A declaration copied from an old shipment, with an outdated name or packing group, is a mis-declaration even when the goods are packed perfectly.

FAQ