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Dangerous Goods Notes
How and when to use the DGN
When dangerous goods are transported, the consignment must be accompanied by a transport document that contains information declaring the type and nature of the goods. The DGN enables the shipper to complete one standard document for all consignments irrespective of port or inland depot.
By doing so, it provides the receiving authority with complete, accurate and timely information as well as providing all
those with an interest in the consignment with adequate information at each stage of the transport movement. The greatest benefit of using the DGN is that receiving authorities have clear and precise information on the way the goods
should be handled.
The DGN reflects the documentary requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) and the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road (ADR).
Transport regulations
Dangerous goods transported solely within Ireland are subject to the provisions of ADR /RID or the IMDG Code as appropriate. Thus the carrier is required to ensure that a transport document accompanies the consignment of most dangerous goods and it is the duty of the consignor to ensure that it is made available. Further the consignor and carrier are required to keep a written record of the information contained within the transport document and to retain
it for 3 months.
Who should complete the dangerous note?
The dangerous goods note must be completed by the consignor, a specific requirement of ADR and RID.
Remember: Any inaccuracies and omissions in the data you provide may compromise safety, result in confusion, add extra costs and delay consignments.
Who should complete the Container/Vehicle Packing Certificate (CVPC)
It is the duty of the person filling the container to sign this part of the document. Where a consignor loads the complete container then the duty lies with the consignor and his staff. Where shipments are LCL and individual consignors load groupage into a container the issue of signing the CVPC is more complicated and the following offers some guidance:
Where a consolidator collects groupage and loads a container with the various goods the duty lies with the consolidator.
Guidance on Using the DGN
It is most important to follow the booking and receiving procedures as specified by shipping lines, carriers and receiving authorities. Further points to consider in completing the DGN are given below:
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In the below, paragraphs which are highlighted red are mandatory under the provisions of IMDG / RID / ADR
1. Exporter (Shipper, Consignor, Sender)
Name and address including postcode.
2. Customs Reference/Status
This box should be used by the exporter to declare the Unique Consignment
Reference (UCR) for the export movement. The construction of the declaration UCR
(DUCR) should follow the format required by Revenue & Customs, including the use
of alpha numeric characters and spaces and hyphens.
Tariff and Public Notice No. 275. Exporters should NOT use this box for the purpose
of quoting just the commercial reference of the consignment (see Box 4 below).
This box should NOT be used for declaring the Master UCR (MUCR) -
below – or consignments in FREE CIRCULATION moving solely within the EU.
3. Booking number
Booking reference number of carrier (shipping line, combined transport operator).
4. Exporter's reference
Consignment reference designated by the exporter -
part of the DUCR in Box 2.
5. Forwarder's reference
Consignment reference designated by the forwarder (if any).
6. Consignee
Should be used for name & address including post code of the consignee/importer
6A. DSHA Notification
There is a requirement under DSHA (Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas)
regulations to pre-
the Harbour Master. A cross ("X") should be placed in the box of the person
responsible for pre-
dangerous goods arrive. The period is usually a minimum of 24 hours but is often
less for ro/ro ports. The DGN may be accepted as pre-
7. Freight Forwarder
Name, address of freight forwarder (if any), including postcode.
8. International Carrier
Name of shipping line or combined transport operator.
Not required by sea for short sea Roll on/roll off consignments
9. Other Irish Transport Details
Information required in this box will differ depending on the consignment in
question and the specific information and procedural requirements of receiving
authorities and shipping lines e.g. delivery address, ICD terminal, vehicle booking
reference, receiving dates, name of receiving authority, haulier's collection
Instructions.
10. Vessel and port of loading.
Vessel name and port of loading e.g. MV Canadian Explorer, Liverpool.
11. Port of discharge and destination.
Name of the port of discharge and the ultimate destination (if inland carriage is
included) e.g. Casablanca, Marrakech.
12. Consignment Information
a. the UN Number preceded by the letters "UN".
b. the Proper Shipping Name (supplemented when applicable with the technical
name) Trade names alone are not acceptable.
c. the Class, or when assigned the division of the goods, including for Class 1 the
compatibility group letter followed by any subsidiary hazard class which should be
shown in brackets;
d. the Packing Group, where assigned, for the substance which may be preceded
with the letters "PG" (e.g.PG II)
e. the appropriate tunnel code eg. (C/D), (D/E)
Examples
"UN 1098 ALLYL ALCOHOL, 6.1 (3), I, (C/D)" or
"UN 1098 ALLYL ALCOHOL, 6.1 (3), PG I, (C/D)"
"UN 2924 FLAMMABLE LIQUID, CORROSIVE, N.O.S (Potassium hydroxide solution in
alcohol) , 3(8), PGII, (C/E), (D/E)
f. Additional Information required by modal regulations following a-
For ADR: The tunnel Code unless you are certain the goods will not pass through a tunnel
For IMDG Code: The flashpoint, marine pollutant, limited quantity etc
Particular attention should be paid to the following:
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This is not a comprehensive list of additional information
g. The Number and Kind of Packages e.g. 2 x 250 L steel drums; 3 x fibreboard
boxes each containing 48 kg.
(There is no need to specify details of inner receptacles or inner packaging’s).
The total amount of dangerous goods in each package, eg,
3 x fibreboard boxes each containing 48 kg – Total 144kg
Note: UN Packaging codes (1A1, 4G, etc) may only be used to supplement a package
description. E.g. "steel drum (1A1)". They must not be used on their own.
Overpacks
Where a number of boxes or drums, for example, are consolidated onto pallets or
into larger boxes for ease of handling then the description on the DGN should state
that the packages are overpacked. NOTE, a pallet is not a package.
Variations in requirements between the Dangerous Goods Regulations:
In a few circumstances the requirements for a particular substance or article may be
significantly different between the IMDG Code and RID/ADR. In such cases the
provisions of Chapter 1.1.4.2 of the ADR Agreement and RID Regulations
(consignments that fully meet the requirements of the IMDG Code for packing,
mixed packing, marking and labelling shall be accepted for carriage under ADR/RID
in a transport chain including maritime transport), a statement shall be included in
the transport document as follows; "Carriage in accordance with 1.1.4.2.1"
h. Customs: Where a consignment forms part of a consolidation or groupage
movement this box should also be used to declare the Master UCR (MUCR). The
consolidator or groupage operator should construct the MUCR in accordance with
the format prescribed by HM Revenue & Customs, including the use of alpha
numeric characters and spaces, hypens and forward slashes. The consolidator or
groupage operator should normally add the MUCR to a Standard Shipping Note
already completed by the Exporter.
13. i. Net weight (kg) of goods
The net weight (kg) for each separate dangerous goods description.
Note only required for explosives (Class 1)
13A. i. Gross weight (kg) of goods
The weight of the merchandise in its export packaging in kilograms for each
separate goods description included on the DGN.
NOTE: DG rules require the total quantity they do not specify whether it should be
mass (KG) or volume (L) but it must be shown for each Proper Shipping Name
ii. Total gross weight of goods
The total gross weight in kilograms of the goods should be entered.
For containerised goods this excludes the weight of the container.
14. i. Cube (m3) of goods
Measurement of goods in cubic metres for each separate goods description
indicating whether pallet measurements are included
ii. Total cube of goods
The total cubic measurement of the goods. Package dimensions of abnormal loads.
Not required by sea for short sea roll on/roll off consignments
15. Container/vehicle packing certificate and declaration (CVPC)
Note: the CVPC is required only for sea transport, including combined journeys.
For container/vehicle loads -
date (where and when signed), signature of person responsible for the
packing/loading of the dangerous goods into the container/vehicle.
NB: The container/vehicle packing certificate and declaration serves a separate
function to the dangerous goods declaration, and the two are very often signed by
different people. However, for the sake of convenience the two declarations are
included in the same document.
The consignor (exporter) of the goods is responsible for signing the dangerous
goods declaration (box 17), but the declaration under the container/vehicle packing
certificate (box 15) must be signed by whoever is responsible for packing/loading
the dangerous goods into the container/vehicle.
It is clearly inappropriate for the consignor to sign the packing certificate (box 15), if
the packing/loading is undertaken elsewhere -
depot, or at an outside warehouse.
16. Container identification number/vehicle registration number
e.g. ACLU 269687/4.
16A Seal Number(s)
The number as shown on exporter's and/or Customs' seals used to secure the
container/trailer.
16B Container/vehicle size and type
e.g. 40ft GP. The ISO code for container size/type may be used although this is not
Mandatory.
16C Tare (kg)
The tare weight as marked on the container safety convention (CSC) plate.
16D Total gross weight (including tare) (kg)
Total weight of boxes 13A and 16C.
NOTE: Boxes 16-
17. Declaration
i. Name and telephone number of shipper preparing this note
ii. Name/status of declarant -
preparing the DGN.
iii. Place and date -
Signature of declarant -
nature of the danger(s) of the goods and with the legal requirements and liabilities
which apply to the shipment of dangerous goods (see box 10A of the DGN – the
Dangerous Goods Declaration).
NOTE: This box only need be completed when there is a sea journey .
Declarations and signatures are not required for road or rail journeys
Box by Box Completion Guidelines