Canada

Canada Regulatory Information

IVODGA actively monitors the Transport Dangerous Goods Regulations in Canada, and submits comments as appropriate for the membership.

TDG Regulations

The Act (with updated highlighted)

TDG Newsletters

Safety Awareness Materials and FAQ

Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC)

TDG Enforcement Actions Summaries

Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate

Comments:

February 2022 IVODGA Comments. IVODGA recently filed comments on the “Regulations Amending The Transportation Of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) (Part 6 – Training)” that was published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on December 11, 2021. Click here to read IVODGA comments.

News:

September 2024 Updates:

60-Day Public Review - CAN/CGSB-43.150 Design, manufacture and use of UN standardized drums, jerricans, boxes, bags, combination packagings, composite packagings and other packagings for the transport of dangerous goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, and 9

Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.150 is undergoing public review from Wednesday August 28, 2024, to October 28, 2024. The new edition of this standard incorporates the content of the standard that currently addresses drum remanufacturing and reconditioning (CGSB.43-126).

The notification for the public review process can be found at the following location (English and French):

Anyone interested in reviewing the document / proving comments should request a copy of the draft standard by email from Beata Hart, Standards Specialist, Canadian General Standards Board (beata.hart@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca), or Julie Prescott, Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist (Julie@costha.com).

If you choose to submit any comments, please ensure to use the comment form that will be emailed along your copy the draft copy of the standard. Note that the CGSB will not accept comments provided any other way. The completed comment form must be returned directly to the CGSB (beata.hart@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca) by October 28, 2024.

- - - - - -

Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations Client Identification Database Deadline: October 25, 2024. Transport Canada (TC) has introduced new registration provisions into the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) through the new Part 17, Site Registration Requirements, which was published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on October 25, 2023. The new provisions require registration to the Client Identification Database (CID) for persons or organizations involved in dangerous goods (DG) activities (i.e., all persons who import, offer for transport, handle, or transport dangerous goods at a “site” in Canada), unless otherwise exempted. TC intends to use the information on sites collected through the CID to assess their risk to public safety, share important information with stakeholders and prioritize sites for inspection based on risk.

Initial Application: Persons currently engaged in TDG operations have until October 25, 2024, to complete their registration in the database. Persons who start new operations after October 25, 2023, must complete their registration in the database before engaging in any DG activities.

Annual Renewal and Updates: A person must renew their registration in the database annually and update all the information, as needed, for each site. They must maintain up-to-date information in the registration database by providing updates within 60 calendar days of a change related to their information.

Required Information: The following information is required for each site:

Administrative information (including contact information for a person located in Canada)
Mode of transport
Classes and divisions of DG
Specific activities (importing, offering for transport, handling, or transporting) that were undertaken in the previous fiscal year.

Where do I Register? The easiest way to find out if you need to register is by taking the TC questionnaire here. Before registering, you must gather specific information on your organization outlined here and secure a sign-in method. Consider reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and CID User Guides. Once confirmed, visit the CID website to start the registration process.

- - - - - -

CAN/CGSB-43.151-2024 “Packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of explosives (Class 1)”

A new edition of this safety standard has been developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and was published in April 2024. The most significant changes include the following items:

An updated list of explosives, as well as updated special provisions and packing instructions (including EP101, CEP 01 and CEP 02) which align with the 22nd edition of the UN Recommendations on the TDG.
Updated references to other dangerous goods packaging standards.
New requirements on the reuse of packagings and the use of partially filled packagings.
Updated decontamination requirements.
New provision prohibiting the use of lightweight IBC for the transport of explosives.

Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.151 standard is already incorporated by reference in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, stakeholders must fully comply with the new version of the standard by October 2024. This standard may be downloaded free of charge here (on that page, right click and download the “electronic document”).

Please note that stakeholders can send questions directly to Transport Canada (tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca), and that individuals and organizations interested in developing future editions of the standard can contact the CGSB directly (ncr.ongc-cgsb@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca).

- - - - - -

Transport Canada Assesses Batteries by Sea: Research summary – Marine transport of energy storage systems (ESS): Hazard assessment and regulatory analysis. This research evaluated the hazards of commercially available energy storage system (ESS) types for transportation by the marine mode in enclosed vessel spaces according to the current International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Enclosed spaces, such as container cargo holds or closed roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) spaces, were considered. In the context of this hazard assessment study, the ESS types considered are those being transported as dangerous goods (i.e., not used for propulsion of the vessel). Research results indicate that these commodities are viewed as posing a high degree of hazard given the current regulatory requirements, which has led to shippers taking precautions above and beyond what is prescribed by the current regulations. Read more… (August 26, 2024 – Transport Canada)

August 2024 Updates:

Transport Canada Basic Competency for Transporting DG Checklist. Transport Canada has published a basic competency checklist to complement the training requirements of Part 6 of the TDG Regulations. The checklist is not intended to replace the requirements not to introduce any new requirements, but it does offer a useful guidance to those responsible for compliance.

The competency list has five components: training certificate; shipping document; means of containment; safety marks; and reporting requirements. Each section contains a summary of the standards that must be met to ensure competency. The document also includes some useful links to the TDG Regulations and contact details for regional offices. It can be downloaded from the Transport Canada website here.

Hazardous goods cargo embargoed by Canadian carriers. Canadian rail carriers CPKC and Canadian Pacific have started restricting shipments of hazardous goods due to the possibility of a work stoppage next week. Railway management is concerned about substances such as chlorine and ammonia being left unattended on the rail lines. Read more… (August 13, 2024 – SupplyChainDive)

Transport Canada: Marine transportation safety investigation report M21P0297. TSB, Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, has released the findings of its investigation into the fire aboard the 4,250-teu containership ZIM Kingston in October 2021 off the coast of British Columbia. The event started when the vessel began rolling dangerously in a phenomenon called parametric rolling; this led to the loss of 109 containers overboard. Some 36 hours later, a fire broke out in a damaged container carrying potassium amyl xanthate, which spread to five nearby containers; the fire burned for five days. Read more…

July 2024 Updates:

Transport Canada has begun rolling out its ‘TDG Online’ platform, which will act as a web portal for everything to do with the transport of dangerous goods. The platform has started with one service, the Canutec Registration System, which allows dutyholders to register for and use Canutec’s free 24/7 emergency telephone number on dangerous goods shipping documents.

TDG Online also includes two user guides to explain how to set up the accounts needed to use the platform and how to navigate the platform. Other services will become available in due course. Full details can be found at https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/tdg-online/user-guide-setting-your-accounts.

Newly added: CID Videos have been posted and can be found at the following:

CID Video – Presentation on Part 17

The presentation explains why Part 17 – Site Registration Requirements and the associated registration platform (Client Identification Database) have been created and gives further details on the definition of a site and the exemptions related to the registration. This video can be shared with persons and organizations to help them determine if they must register their site(s).

CID Point and Click Video

This presentation is a no-audio demonstration of the registration process in the platform.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the TDG Safety Awareness Team.

CAN/CGSB-43.151-2024 “Packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of explosives (Class 1)”

A new edition of this safety standard has been developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and was published in April 2024. For additional information on the most significant changes, visit the Transport Canada website here

This safety standard is already incorporated by reference in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, stakeholders have 6 months from the publication of the new version of the standard to fully comply with it (October 2024). Questions can be sent directly to Transport Canada: tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca.

May 2024 Updates:

Transport Canada Dangerous Goods Marks. This bulletin explains the labelling and placarding requirements. It does not change, create, amend or suggest deviations to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations). For specific details, consult Part 4 of the TDG Regulations.

The term “dangerous goods safety mark” is replaced with “dangerous goods mark” throughout the English version of the TDG Regulations and this document to reflect the terminology being used in the Act. This change will allow internal consistency with no change in the meaning. The terminology in the TDG Regulations is being modified as the TDG Regulations are updated. Read more… (May 13, 2024 – Transport Canada)

April 2024 Updates:

CAN/CGSB-43.151-2024 “Packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of explosives (Class 1)”

A new edition of this safety standard has been developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and was published in April 2024. The most significant changes include the following items:

An updated list of explosives, as well as updated special provisions and packing instructions (including EP101, CEP 01 and CEP 02) which align with the 22nd edition of the UN Recommendations on the TDG.
Updated references to other dangerous goods packaging standards.
New requirements on the reuse of packagings and the use of partially filled packagings.
Updated decontamination requirements.
New provision prohibiting the use of lightweight IBC for the transport of explosives.

Since the CAN/CGSB-43.151 standard is already incorporated by reference in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, stakeholders have 6 months from the publication of the new version of the standard to fully comply with it.

Additional information:

This standard may be downloaded free of charge here (on that page, right click and download the “electronic document”).
Stakeholders can send questions directly to Transport Canada: tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca.
Individuals and organizations interested in developing future editions of the standard can contact the CGSB directly: ncr.ongc-cgsb@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.

December 2023 Updates:

Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (TDG Act, 1992). Following an evaluation of the Contraventions Act Program in 2021 assessing activities undertaken by Justice Canada between 2016-2017 and 2019-2020, it was recommended that federal departments and agencies be engaged in a systemic review of fine levels, to ensure that the Contraventions Act is achieving its intended impact on those who commit offences designated as contraventions.

Justice Canada agreed with the recommendation and advised that Transport Canada (TC) and all departments that have offences designated as contraventions, increase their existing fine amounts. Therefore, in 2023, the Department of Justice and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate worked in close collaboration in reviewing existing fine amounts under Schedule XV of the Contraventions Regulations. As existing fine amounts had not been updated since the offences were first included in the Contraventions Regulations in 2007, it was recommended to update the fines to a more appropriate level in order to maintain their deterrent effect. This work led to the publication of the Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992) in the Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII) on December 20, 2023.

These amendments come into force on the day upon which they are published in the CGII.

You are encouraged to read the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) that follows the regulatory text. The RIAS provides a plain language explanation of why the changes were needed and a description of the main changes that were made. It provides Justice Canada’s rationale for making the changes and the expected costs and benefits that will result from the proposal.

Transport Canada Informal Consultation: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the TDGA (Part 12 and IHU). Transport Canada is reaching out to stakeholders prior to the final publication of the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 (Part 12 and International Harmonization Update) in the Part II of the Canada Gazette (CG II) and is seeking input on the envisioned modifications presented in the consultation document here. These proposed refinements are made based on comments received after the publication of the proposed amendments in Part I of the Canada Gazette in November 2022.

The TDG Newsletter: 2023 edition is now available on the Transport Canada website here

CANUTEC Video. CANUTEC has created an awareness video to showcase how CANUTEC Emergency Response Advisors handle emergency calls. This video also focuses on the different services that CANUTEC offers as well as increases awareness on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate’s Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) Program. The new CANUTEC Awareness Video can be found on the CANUTEC Website, the TC Video Gallery, and the TC YouTube account.

Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 49: Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canadian Update). The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) under the authority of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 (TDG Act) need to be updated to strengthen existing rules, clarify provisions, fix inconsistencies, and introduce new rules in response to concerns raised by stakeholders, inspectors, and local authorities. The current rules are not, for example, aligned with the United States (US) regulations (i.e. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations [49 CFR]) pertaining to buffer car requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods by rail. This is a 75-day consultation until February 22, 2024. Read more… (December 9, 2023 – Transport Canada). IVODGA will provide more details on comment submission soon.

Transport Canada Public Notice – Consultation for new editions of CSA B339, CSA B340, CSA B341, and CSA B342. Please note that Transport Canada has shared that the new editions of the following standards are being developed by the Canadian Standards Association's (CSA) Technical Committee on Cylinders, Spheres, and Tubes for the transportation of dangerous goods, and are expected to be published in 2024. As part of the standards development process, CSA has posted the draft standards for public review and comment on its website:

CSA B339 "Cylinders, spheres, and tubes for the transportation of dangerous goods"
CSA B340 "Selection and use of cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for the transportation of dangerous goods, Class 2"
CSA B341 "UN pressure receptacles and multiple-element gas containers for the transport of dangerous goods"
CSA B342 "Selection and use of UN pressure receptacles and multiple-element gas containers for the transport of dangerous goods, Class 2"

November 2023 Updates:
Transport Canada / TDGR - Part 17, Site Registration Requirements (Published in Canada Gazette, Part II). Transport Canada has posted guidance material here, which explains the basics of the Client Identification Database (CID) and includes the following topics:

An overview of who needs to register and a CID questionnaire to help stakeholders figure it out.
A list of things to know/have before you register, a link to the Registration Database, as well as information about updates to the information and the annual renewal requirements.
Some CID user guides are also available with step-by step instructions.

The CID website also contains a list of frequently asked questions.

October 2023 Updates:

Publication of the Site Registration Requirements in Part II of the Canada Gazette. The Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Site Registration Requirements) were published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on October 25, 2023. The amendment is accessible through the following URL: SOR/2023-206.

To address some of the concerns raised in an internal audit of the Transport Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Program in 2006, and the 2011 and 2020 follow-up Audit report of the Office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, these regulatory amendments are introducing new requirements to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations that:

require that persons who import, offer for transport, handle or transport dangerous goods at a site located in Canada that they own or operate be registered in a new registration database if applicable; and
require that all registered persons provide administrative information and information concerning the dangerous goods and operations being conducted at their respective Site located in Canada that they own or operate.

Persons who are required to register in the database will have up to one (1) year after the coming into force date of the amendments to complete their registration, until October 25, 2024. The amendments came into force on the day on which they were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

To find more information on the registration database and the registration process, please visit the https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/client-identification-database-cid

You are encouraged to read the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) that follows the regulatory text. The RIAS provides a plain language explanation of why the changes were needed and a description of the main changes that were made. It provides Transport Canada’s rationale for making the changes and the expected costs and benefits that will result from the amendment.

August 2023 Updates:

TC Update: Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Part 6 – Training). Transport Canada has advised the regulatory project titled Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Part 6 – Training) will be reviewed and be published in Part I of the Canada Gazette following the latest consultation. Proposed changes to the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of the regulatory proposal were presented to stakeholders on June 1, 2023, for a 30-day consultation period.

The analysis of the latest comments has shown that most stakeholders are not in agreement with the assumptions used to calculate the revised costs of the proposal. Based on what was shared through this informal consultation, new recommendations to the CBA assumptions have been made, and the new net cost of the proposed Regulations is now estimated at approximately $400M (as opposed to the $17M that was originally anticipated). Based on the important difference between the CBA assumptions, the reality stemming from consultations, as well as the administrative burden reduction initiative and the current economic situation, it was decided to review the proposed amendment and republish in Part I of the Canada Gazette.

This will benefit the TDG community by allowing TC to:

Increase alignment with other countries that require the General Awareness and Function-Specific training when feasible for persons engaged in any dangerous goods activities; and
Explore strategies to ease the burden on stakeholders while still promoting public safety at a time when the economy is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation is high.

July 2023 Updates:

Regulations Amending the TDG Regulations (Miscellaneous Program). The Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) were published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on July 5, 2023 as SOR/2023-155. These amendments contain minor technical and administrative amendments that must be made to the TDG Regulations, including typographical and punctuation errors, formatting, and numbering changes, as well as some inconsistencies between the English and French versions of the regulations.

The objectives of the miscellaneous regulatory amendments are as follows:

Repeal obsolete regulatory provisions that have no current application;
Correct discrepancies between the French and English versions;
Harmonize terms used in the TDGR with those used in the Act or related regulations;
Clarify existing provisions;
Correct typographical, grammatical, spelling, numbering, and punctuation errors; and
Update references to standards and other documents incorporated by reference.

The miscellaneous regulatory amendments include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sections 1.1 & 1.2 of the TDGR have been repealed.
The words “permit for equivalent level of safety” in Section 1.4 have been deleted and Part 14 now references “equivalency certificate”.
A reference to the marks required by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Actand its regulations has been added in Section 1.16, 500 kg Gross Mass Exemption.
All references to “accidental release of dangerous goods” have been replaced by “release of dangerous goods”.
The terms “dangerous goods safety marks” have been replaced by the terms “dangerous goods marks”.
The terms “certification safety marks” have been replaced by the terms “compliance marks”.
Subsections 5.10(2) to (5) and 5.10(7) to (10) of the TDGR have been deleted.
Subparagraphs 12.1(1)(a)(iv) and (v) of the TDGR have been deleted.
All references to the Director General have been deleted.
Special provision 141 has been assigned to UN3269, POLYESTER RESIN KIT.
The words “hazards” and “hazardous” have been replaced by the words “danger” and “dangerous”.

Transport Canada encourages everyone to read the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) that provides Transport Canada’s rationale for making the changes and the expected costs and benefits that will result from the proposal. The RIAS also outlines mots of the changes to the TDG Regulations.

Please note that these amendments come into force on the day upon which they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part II (i.e., July 5, 2025).

Consultation – Packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of Explosives (Class 1) (CAN/CGSB-43.151). The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the draft of Safety Standard CAN/CGSB-43.151 for a 60-day consultation period. This standard is incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations) and the new edition will come into force once published with a six-month phase-in (transitional) period. Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.151 sets out the requirements for packaging, handling, offering for transport and transport of explosives (Class 1). To obtain a copy of the draft safety standard, please contact the CGSB directly via Beata Hart at beata.hart@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Consultation: June 19, 2023, to August 18, 2023.

Consultation – Reconditioning, remanufacturing and repair of drums for the transportation of dangerous goods (CAN/CGSB-43.126). The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the draft of Safety Standard CAN/CGSB-43.126 for a 60-day consultation period. This standard is incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations) and the new edition will come into force once published with a six-month phase-in (transitional) period. Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.126 sets out the requirements for reconditioning, remanufacturing and repair of drums for the transportation of dangerous goods. To obtain a copy of the draft safety standard, please contact the CGSB directly via Beata Hart at beata.hart@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Consultation: June 22, 2023, to August 21, 2023.

Publication – Ton containers for the transportation of dangerous goods (CAN/CGSB-43.149-2023). A new edition of safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.149 has been developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and was published in April 2023. A copy of the standard may be obtained free of charge from (contact: ncr.ongc-cgsb@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca). Please note that this standard has not yet been incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations).

- - - - - -

Ton Containers for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (CAN/CGSB-43.149). The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the draft of Safety Standard CAN/CGSB-43.149 for a 60-day consultation period. Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.149 sets out the requirements for designing, manufacturing, maintaining, qualifying, inspecting, marking, selecting, and using ton containers. The standard also lays out the requirements for the quality management system and its applicability, and the registration of facilities performing manufacture, inspection, maintenance, or qualification of ton containers.

This new edition of CAN/CGSB-43.149 will replace Transport Canada standard TP 14877 and it will come into force when it is incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations) by a later regulatory amendment. Read more… (August 24, 2022 – Transport Canada)

July 2022: NOTICE - Publication of Proposed Amendments to the TDG Regulations (Registration Database). Transport Canada has published an amendment entitled “Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Registration database)” in Part I of the Canada Gazette (CGI) on June 25, 2022 for a 70-day comment period. The amendment is accessible through the following URL: https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2022/2022-06-25/html/reg2-eng.html

The proposed amendment includes updates to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) to require that that persons who handle, offer for transport, transport, or import (HOTI) dangerous goods be registered in a new registration database, when applicable, and provide contact/site information as well as information on the dangerous goods being handled, offered for transport, transported or imported at their facilities.

The Government of Canada is transitioning to a new feature in CGI that is meant to facilitate submitting comments on proposed regulations and to heighten transparency and accountability of the Canadian regulatory consultation process. The new feature allows online submission of comments on regulatory proposals; comments are published on the Canada Gazette website at the end of the consultation period.

Please note that IVODGA will be compiling member comments on the proposed amendments and sharing them with Transport Canada. Comments can be sent to julie@ivodga.com

Part 6 – Training
Following discussions at the General Policy Advisory Council (GPAC) meeting held on May 11, 2022 , Transport Canada has agreed to share the attached document, which includes the revised draft provisions for the incorporation by reference of the standard CGSB-192.3, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training, Assessment and Competency to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, based on comments received following the pre-publication of the Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Part 6 — Training) in Part I of the Canada Gazette in December 2021.

June 2022: Consultation - Containers for Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail (CAN/CGSB-43.147)

On June 7, 2022, the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the draft of Safety Standard CAN/CGSB-43.147 for a 60-day consultation period ending August 7, 2022. This safety standard sets out the requirements for designing, manufacturing, maintaining, qualifying, inspecting, marking, selecting and using tank cars, and also lays out the requirements for a quality management system and its applicability, as well as the registration of facilities performing manufacture, inspection, maintenance or qualification of tank cars. This new edition of CAN/CGSB-43.147 will replace Transport Canada standard TP 14877, and will come into force when it is incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations).

Significant changes

Phase-out legacy tank cars in dangerous goods toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) service and introducing the “H” delimeter for the newer improved specifications of TIH tank cars.
Enhanced specifications of Class 113 tank cars in flammable cryogenic liquid service.
Removed class TC114 as an option for the manufacture of new tank cars.
Incorporated the requirements of Protective Direction 39.
Updated the dangerous goods list for consistency with the TDG Regulations and better alignment with the tank car packaging assignments in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States (49 CFR).
Removal of requirements pertaining to ton containers (these will be addressed in the proposed new safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.149).

Please note that IVODGA will not be sending comments to the CGSB.

For comments or additional information, please contact Beata Hart, Standards Specialist, directly (email: beata.hart@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca or phone: 343-543-3518).

April 2022: New edition of CAN/CGSB 43.146 is published. A new edition of safety standard CAN/CGSB 43.146 “Design, manufacture and use of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) for the transportation of dangerous goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9” has been developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Technical Committee and was published in March 2022. Stakeholders must comply with the 2022 edition of the standard, but in accordance with Section 1.3.2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR), the previous version of the document (2016 edition) may be complied with during the 6-months transitional period ending on September 30, 2022.

The most notable changes in the new edition of this standard are as follows:

Alignment with the 21st edition of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations (Orange Book)
Updates related to the routine maintenance and repair of IBCs
Updates to IBC design, testing and marking requirements
Updates to requirements on the use of plastic material
Clarifications to Annex C

A more detailed summary of the changes between the 2016 edition of the standard and the updated 2022 edition of the standard can be found here.

A PDF copy of standard can be downloaded here: CAN/CGSB 43.146.

Questions regarding the new edition of CAN/CGSB-43.146 may be submitted to Transport Canada by email (tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca).

Newest Transport Canada Infomercial for Batteries, available in English and French, click here to view.

Guide for reporting dangerous goods incidents. This guide is for reference only, and has no legal force or effect. Consignors, carriers and consignees are responsible for consulting the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations) to determine exact requirements. If there is a conflict between the guide and the TDG Regulations, the TDG Regulations takes precedence.

This guide is for any person involved in any way with the transport of dangerous goods. During such activities, incidents may occur that may lead to a release or anticipated release. Duty to report is described in section 18(1) of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 (TDG Act), and referenced in Part 8 of the TDG Regulations. Read more… (January 6, 2022 – Transport Canada)

2022: Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 50: Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Part 6 — Training). Issues: The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) require any person who handles, offers for transport or transports dangerous goods, to be “adequately trained” in their dangerous goods tasks and receive a certificate of training. While a majority of stakeholders meet or exceed the current training requirements, Transport Canada (TC) inspectors have identified that some employees lack the knowledge and skills required to conduct their dangerous goods tasks despite possessing a valid training certificate. Inconsistent or poor training of persons who handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods can result in improper handling and transporting of dangerous goods that could endanger public safety. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) monitoring program revealed that, of the 409 dangerous goods incidents resulting in injury or death reported between 2014 and 2019, approximately 55 were attributed to improper or insufficient training. Extensive consultations with industry indicated that there is confusion among some stakeholders regarding what “adequately trained” means and what type of training their employees need. Internationally, codes that govern the transport of dangerous goods currently require that persons who handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods receive both general awareness training and function-specific training. Since the training requirements in the TDGR do not clearly state that general and function-specific trainings are required, the wording needs to be better aligned with international requirements and clarify TC’s expectations of the regulated community. Read more… (December 11, 2021 – Transport Canada)

2022: Second informal consultation on proposed amendments to the TDG Regulations (Canadian Update). Transport Canada (TC) is currently consulting on proposed amendments titled Regulations amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canadian Update) to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR). For these proposed amendments, TC is requesting feedback on updated proposed regulatory changes being developed under the Canadian Update. We are also collecting data to inform the cost-benefit analysis for these upcoming proposed changes.

Highlights of proposed amendments

Aligning buffer car requirements with those from the United States:
require unit trains (trains carrying loaded tank cars that all contain the same type of dangerous goods) to add buffer cars;
clarify the rules around train dynamics (how a train moves along the tracks); and
clarify that containers hauling dangerous goods attached to flatbed rail cars like intermediate bulk containers (IBC) can’t be placed next to an occupied rail vehicle or next to railway vehicles that have a constant source of ignition.
Proposing a different approach to transporting anhydrous ammonia fertilizer to ensure public safety:
require an emergency response assistance plan (ERAP) for anhydrous ammonia fertilizer; and
repeal the 100 km distance on public roads.
Aligning the TDGR with the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, 2015 for the transport of radioactive materials by:
adding two (2) new exemptions for the transport of radioactive materials for medical use and for the transport of unclassified radioactive material or radioactive waste materials; and
clarifying the existing rules under the radioactive materials exemption.
Introducing existing equivalency certificates into the regulations by introducing the following exemptions for:
cylinders containing medical oxygen for personal use; and
dangerous goods that are necessary for an enforcement officer to carry out their duties.
Repealing the current requirement to inform local police before moving dangerous goods between two (2) properties.
Allowing pre-printed safety marks on empty packages if the packages are in a broken-down state or if they accompanied by a document that states the following:
“Empty packaging – does not contain dangerous”
Clarifying when the terms “Residue – Last Contained” or “résidu-dernier contenu” should be used on a shipping document.
Adding training requirements for certain exempt dangerous goods.

Transport Canada also wants to know how these changes could impact your work with dangerous goods and requests answers to the questions below.

Do you agree with these changes? If not, why?
Would these changes add to your costs? How?
Could these changes benefit your business? How would you measure this?

We welcome / request comments from IVODGA members on the proposed amendments. Please note that IVODGA is gathering answers to the three questions above online (click here to access online poll) until January 15, 2022. For additional questions / comments, contact julie@ivodga.com

Quick Links