Dangerous Goods Declarations API

Dangerous Goods Declaration OCR & Data Extraction

A Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is the formal shipping document in which a shipper certifies that hazardous materials have been classified, packed, marked, and labelled in accordance with applicable regulations such as IATA DGR, IMDG Code, or 49 CFR. Carriers, freight forwarders, and customs authorities rely on the DGD to identify the exact nature of the dangerous goods being shipped, including UN numbers, hazard classes, packing groups, and emergency response contacts. ByteIt extracts the key data fields from DGDs across different layouts and regulatory formats, returning clean JSON ready for compliance checks, carrier booking, and downstream logistics systems.

14

Extractable fields

5

Use cases

7

FAQs answered

Benefits

Reduce manual data entry errors on high-stakes hazmat declarations that can delay shipments or incur regulatory penalties.

Speed up freight booking cycles by feeding extracted DGD data directly into carrier compliance systems and ERP workflows.

Maintain audit-ready records by structuring every DGD field into a consistent, queryable format for customs and regulatory reviews.

Handle multi-page declarations and varied form layouts without template configuration or manual retraining.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Upload

    Send the document to the API as a file or a URL no special formatting required.

  2. Step 2

    The engine reads the document

    The engine analyzes the page layout and identifies the content that matters. The engine reads the specific data fields on a Dangerous Goods Declaration: shipper and consignee addresses, transport document numbers, page numbering, shipper's and freight forwarder's references, carrier name, product descriptions with quantities and weights, vessel or flight numbers, and ports of loading, discharge, and final destination.

  3. Step 3

    Structured JSON is returned

    Every extracted element comes back as structured JSON, positioned and typed, ready to feed into downstream systems.

  4. Step 4

    Confidence-based review

    Each field carries a confidence score, so low-confidence results can be routed for human review instead of trusted blindly.

Extractable fields

Address of the ShipperTransport Document NumberPage NumberingShipper's ReferenceFreight Forwarder's ReferenceAddress of the ConsigneeName of the CarrierProduct DescriptionQuantity and WeightVessel/Flight NumberPort/Place of LoadingPort/Place of DischargeFinal Destination+ many more

Features

Extracts shipper and consignee details, transport document numbers, vessel/flight information, ports of loading and discharge, and product descriptions with quantities and weights.

Processes DGDs in PDF, JPG, and PNG formats, including scanned and photographed documents.

Returns structured JSON output that integrates with workflow automation tools such as n8n, Zapier, or Make.

Supports English-language DGD forms across IATA, IMDG, and domestic regulatory layouts.

Use cases

Automated hazmat compliance verification

Logistics compliance teams can automatically extract UN numbers, hazard classes, and packing groups from incoming DGDs and validate them against current IATA or IMDG regulatory tables. Discrepancies are flagged in real time, reducing the risk of rejected shipments or fines during customs inspection.

Carrier booking and freight forwarding integration

Freight forwarders processing hundreds of DGDs daily can extract shipper and consignee addresses, vessel or flight numbers, and port details into structured data and push it directly into their booking platforms. This eliminates double-keying and cuts the turnaround time from document receipt to carrier booking confirmation.

ERP and supply chain data enrichment

Shipping and logistics departments can connect extracted DGD data into their ERP or warehouse management system using workflow automation tools like n8n, Zapier, or Make. Every hazmat shipment record is automatically enriched with the document number, product descriptions, weights, and quantities, giving supply chain teams a single source of truth without manual spreadsheet reconciliation.

Audit trail creation for regulatory inspections

Organisations subject to ADR, IMDG, or IATA audits can archive every processed DGD with its extracted fields in a searchable database. When an auditor requests documentation for a specific shipment, compliance officers can retrieve the structured record and the original document in seconds rather than digging through paper archives.

Multi-carrier document standardisation

Companies that ship hazardous goods via multiple carriers and transport modes (air, sea, road) receive DGDs in varying layouts and formats. ByteIt normalises these into a consistent field set, allowing logistics teams to compare, forward, and reconcile hazmat declarations without retraining or manual reformatting per carrier.

LIVE DEMO

Try it yourself

Upload a sample Dangerous Goods Declaration in PDF, JPG, or PNG format and see the extracted fields in real time.

Sample document: Dangerous_goods_declaration

Select a document and press Parse

Want to run it on your own documents?

Ready to dive in? Request a key to get started.

Business advantages

Frequently asked questions

What is a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD)?

A Dangerous Goods Declaration is a shipping document prepared by the shipper that confirms hazardous materials have been classified, packed, marked, and declared in accordance with applicable regulations such as IATA DGR, IMDG Code, or 49 CFR. It accompanies each consignment and provides carriers and regulators with the information needed to transport the goods safely.

What file formats are supported for DGD extraction?

ByteIt accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files. Both digital and scanned DGDs are supported, including photographs of paper forms, as long as the document text is legible.

How is the DGD extraction API integrated?

ByteIt offers a REST API with a Python SDK for quick integration. You can also connect the API to your logistics workflow using no-code automation tools such as n8n, Zapier, or Make without writing custom code.

Can it extract data from low-quality scans or photographed DGDs?

Yes. ByteIt's extraction engine is designed to handle varying image quality, including scanned documents with uneven lighting, slight skew, or low resolution. For best results, ensure the document text is readable and the key fields are not obscured.

Does it support multi-page DGDs?

Yes. ByteIt processes multi-page Dangerous Goods Declarations, extracting fields across all pages and returning the consolidated data in a single structured JSON response. Page numbering is also captured where present.

How much does the API cost?

ByteIt offers a free Build plan with 1,000 pages per month. The Scale plan costs 260 EUR per month for 25,000 pages, and Enterprise plans with custom limits, zero data retention, and dedicated support are available on request.

What languages does the DGD extraction support?

The Dangerous Goods Declaration extraction currently supports English-language documents. Support for additional languages is planned in future releases.

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