Two Paperwork Must Dos To Comply with Canada Transportation Dangerous Goods Act

On December 31, 2014, the Canada Gazette published the latest amendments to the Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act.   According to Volume 148, No. 27, Amendment 26, 3.5 Information on a Shipping Document will be changed to standardize the order of information when completing the description of the dangerous good.

Amendment 26 excerpt from Canada Gazette Volume 148, No. 27

Amendment 26 "(1) Subparagraphs 3.5(1)(c)(i) to (vi) of the Regulations are replaced by the following: (i) the UN number, (ii) the shipping name and, immediately after the shipping name unless it is already part of it, (A) for dangerous goods that are subject to special provision 16, the technical name, in parentheses, of at least one of the most dangerous substances that predominantly contributes to the hazard or hazards posed by the dangerous goods, and (B) for a liquefied petroleum gas that has not been odorized, the words “Not Odourized” or “Not Odorized” or “Sans odorisant”, (iii) the primary class, which may be shown as a number only or under the heading “Class” or “Classe” or following the word “Class” or “Classe”, (iv) for dangerous goods with a primary class of Class 1, Explosives, the compatibility group letter following the primary class, (v) the subsidiary class or classes, in parentheses, which may be shown as a number only or under the heading “subsidiary class” or “classe subsidiaire” or following the words “subsidiary class” or “classe subsidiaire”, except that, for transport by aircraft or by ship, the subsidiary class or classes may be shown after the information required by this paragraph, (vi) the packing group roman numeral, which may be shown under the heading “PG” or “GE” or following the letters “PG” or “GE” or following the words “Packing Group” or “Groupe d’emballage”, and (vii) for dangerous goods that are subject to special provision 23, the words “toxic by inhalation” or “toxic – inhalation hazard” or “toxique par inhalation” or “toxicité par inhalation”;" (2) The italicized text after paragraph 3.5(1)(c) of the Regulations is replaced by the following: Examples of descriptions of dangerous goods are: UN1203, GASOLINE, 3, II UN1203, GASOLINE, Class 3, PG II UN1214, ISOBUTYLAMINE, Class 3, Subsidiary Class (8), II UN1214, ISOBUTYLAMINE, Class 3(8), Packing Group II (3) Subsections 3.5(4) and (5) of the Regulations is replaced by the following: (4) Despite paragraph (1)(d), if the quantity of dangerous goods in a means of containment is less than 10 per cent of the maximum fill limit of the means of containment, the words “Residue — Last Contained” or “Résidu — dernier contenu” may be added before or after the description of the dangerous goods. These words must not, however, be used for dangerous goods included in Class 2, Gases, that are in a small means of containment or for dangerous goods included in Class 7, Radioactive Materials. For example: Residue — Last Contained, UN1203, GASOLINE, 3, II  UN1203, GASOLINE, 3, II, Residue — Last Contained (5) If the quantity of dangerous goods required on a shipping document under paragraph (1)(d) or the number of small means of containment required under paragraph (1)(e) changes during transport, the carrier must show those changes on the shipping document or on a document attached to the shipping document. (4) Section 3.5 of the Regulations is amended by adding the following after the italicized text after subsection (5): The quantity of dangerous goods is expressed in kilograms for solids, in litres for liquids and in kilograms or litres for gases. It may also be expressed as a number of items. (5) Subsection 3.5(7) of the Regulations is repealed. (6) The italicized text after subsection 3.5(7) of the Regulations is struck out."

Please bookmark: 3.5 Information on a Shipping Document to watch for the change to the TDG Act.

Consignor's Certification Regulation starts July 15, 2015
Although the starting date is July 15, 2015, best practices would be to amend all dangerous goods paperwork to include the “Consignor’s Certification”, along with a space for the individual’s printed name and signature.

3.6.1 Consignor’s Certification SOR/2014-152

For the complete TDG Act: Go to Transport Canada's website safety section or click here.

We encourage all of our clients and subscribers to read the Canada Gazette Volume 148, No. 27 for the complete list of published amendments.