DG Digital, the new fully digital declaration service from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), launched on March 16, 2026, as a core feature within the existing DG AutoCheck platform. The service automates the creation and validation of shipper declarations for more than 3,800 categories of dangerous goods, ranging from lithium batteries to explosives and chemicals.
Currently, 95% of dangerous goods declarations arrive in paper form, requiring scanning, conversion to PDF, and manual upload to DG AutoCheck for verification. DG Digital eliminates this process by enabling fully digital creation and transfer of declarations from the point of issuance by the shipper through to final approval.
How DG Digital Works
The system captures all required data fields for dangerous goods declarations and allows users to share that information electronically with all relevant partners across the cargo supply chain. Direct integration with IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations enables users to identify and resolve issues that could lead to airline rejection or shipment delays, including missing documentation and incorrect data entries.
Validating dangerous goods declarations before physical shipment begins helps operators avoid significant fines and address safety concerns proactively. The system also supports standardized, transparent data exchange between technology platforms and all parties involved in air cargo.
DG Digital Pilot Results in Japan
IATA launched DG Digital following successful pilots conducted in Japan in 2025. Digital verification of declarations during those trials reduced the dangerous goods shipment rejection rate to just 0.5%. This result represents a substantial improvement over the current global average rejection rate of 4.5%, which stems from incomplete or inaccurate declarations.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways participated in the pilots, alongside six freight forwarding companies: International Transportation Service, JAS Forwarding Japan, MOL Logistics, Nippon Express, Nissin, and Yusen Logistics.
Growing Market for Dangerous Goods Shipping
Since its launch in 2019, DG AutoCheck has completed more than one million dangerous goods inspections, with over one-third of those completed in 2025 alone. IATA CargoIS data recorded a 17.5% year-on-year increase in dangerous goods shipments for the full year 2025, driven primarily by rising demand for lithium batteries.
The aviation sector’s rapid growth in dangerous goods volumes underscores the urgency of digital compliance tools. Moreover, the expansion of e-commerce and battery-powered devices continues to add pressure on existing paper-based declaration workflows.
“IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations focus on reducing friction and improving safety in the shipment of these materials. DG Digital supports this by automating shipper declaration processes, benefiting all stakeholders from freight agents and brokers to ground handlers and airlines, giving them access to the same document and providing a quick resolution to any documentation issues before the goods are actually shipped.”
Frederic Leger, Senior Vice President of Products and Services, IATA
Outlook for Digital Cargo Compliance
DG Digital is now available as a standard feature within DG AutoCheck. IATA said the service is designed to serve freight agents, brokers, ground handlers, and airlines operating within the global air cargo network. Furthermore, the association expects the platform to reduce documentation errors and improve overall supply chain safety as adoption grows across the industry.