Regulations amending Transportation of Dangerous Goods regulations

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) announced the Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (International Harmonization Update, 2016), were published in Part II of the Canadian Gazette.

CTA explained the purpose of the amendment is to more closely align Transport Canada’s regulations with those in the United States. A full version of the amendments can be found here. (For an easier read, scroll down to Regulatory Impact Assessment).

Highlights of the amendments include:

• New safety marks & placards for Class 9, Lithium Batteries to harmonize with the UN standards;

• New Canadian labeling requirements for dangerous goods that are toxic by inhalation to align them more closely with the requirements in the U.S. 49 CFR. Instead of the words “toxic by inhalation” or “toxic — inhalation hazard”, the regulations now require the words “inhalation hazard” to be displayed on the means of containment as is required in the United States. The location of the markings on the means of containment and minimum size requirements for the letters are also aligned with those in the United States;

• Introduction of ambulatory referencing of CSA technical standards (e.g. B620, 621, 622 etc.) that are incorporated in the TDG Regulations, allowing for the most recent versions of these documents to be used.  Standards updates will be followed by a 6 month transition that commences after a formal 60 day public comment period.  Additional internal and external checks and balances have also been built into this process to ensure carrier input is received on standards;

• Updated standards for certain intermediate bulk containers and a time limit on the use of others.