Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (SOR/2001-286)

General Provisions

Applicability of the Regulations

1.5 Unless otherwise stated in sections 1.15 to 1.48 of this Part or in Schedule 1 or 2, dangerous goods must be handled, offered for transport or transported in accordance with these Regulations.

Schedule 2: Special Provisions

• 1.5.1 (1) When there is a special provision in Schedule 2 for dangerous goods, that special provision applies.

• (2) When there is a conflict between a special provision in Schedule 2 and other provisions in these Regulations, the special provision applies.

• (3) The UN numbers set out in italics after a special provision of Schedule 2 indicate the dangerous goods in respect of which the special provision applies. They are for information only and are not part of the Regulations.

Schedules 1 and 3: Forbidden Dangerous Goods

• 1.5.2 (1) When the word “Forbidden” is shown for dangerous goods in column 3 of Schedule 1 or column 2 of Schedule 3, a person must not handle, offer for transport or transport the dangerous goods.

• (2) When the word “Forbidden” is shown for dangerous goods in column 8 or 9 of Schedule 1, a person must not offer for transport or transport the dangerous goods by the means of transport set out in the heading of that column.

Schedule 1: Quantity Limits in Columns 8 and 9

• 1.6 (1) When there is a number shown in column 8 of Schedule 1, that number is a quantity limit per means of containment for the corresponding dangerous goods in column 2. A person must not load onto a passenger carrying vessel, or transport on a road vehicle or a railway vehicle on board a passenger carrying vessel, dangerous goods that exceed the quantity limit. Dangerous goods exceed the quantity limit if

  • (a) in the case of a solid, they have a mass that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in kilograms;

  • (b) in the case of a liquid, they have a volume that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in litres;

  • (c) in the case of a gas, including a gas in a liquefied form, they are contained in a means of containment the capacity of which is greater than the number when that number is expressed in litres; and

  • (d) in the case of an explosive

    • (i) not subject to special provision 85 or 86, they have a net explosives quantity that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in kilograms, or

    • (ii) subject to special provision 85 or 86, they exceed 100 articles.

• (2) When there is a number shown in column 9 of Schedule 1, that number is a quantity limit per means of containment for the corresponding dangerous goods in column 2. A person must not offer for transport or transport by passenger carrying road vehicle or passenger carrying railway vehicle dangerous goods that exceed the quantity limit. Dangerous goods exceed the quantity limit if

  • (a) in the case of a solid, they have a mass that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in kilograms;

  • (b) in the case of a liquid, they have a volume that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in litres;

  • (c) in the case of a gas, including a gas in a liquefied form, they are contained in a means of containment the capacity of which is greater than the number when that number is expressed in litres; and

  • (d) in the case of an explosive

    • (i) not subject to special provision 85 or 86, they have a net explosives quantity that is greater than the number when that number is expressed in kilograms, or

    • (ii) subject to special provision 85 or 86, they exceed 100 articles.

• (3) If a quantity limit in column 8 or 9 of Schedule 1 conflicts with any other quantity limit in these Regulations, other than a quantity limit in special provisions, the quantity limit in that column takes precedence.

Safety Requirements, Documents and Safety Marks

1.7 As provided for in section 5 of the Act, a person must not import, offer for transport, handle or transport dangerous goods unless

• (a) the person complies with all applicable prescribed safety requirements;

• (b) the dangerous goods are accompanied by all applicable prescribed documents; and

• (c) the means of containment and transport comply with all applicable prescribed safety standards and display all applicable prescribed safety marks.

Prohibition: Explosives

1.8 A person must not handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods by any means of transport if the dangerous goods are explosives and

• (a) are in direct contact with a large means of containment, except when the explosives are to be transported by road vehicle in quantities that are allowed for explosives in section 9.5, Part 9 (Road), in Schedule 1 or in any special provision in Schedule 2; or

• (b) are also radioactive materials.

1.9 [Repealed, SOR/2017-137, s. 6]

Requirements Respecting the Transportation of Dangerous Goods on Board Passenger Carrying Vessels

• 1.10 (1) The requirements of these Regulations respecting the transportation of dangerous goods other than explosives on board a passenger carrying vessel apply to a passenger carrying vessel that is transporting more than 25 passengers or more than one passenger for each 3 m of the length of the vessel.

• (2) The requirements of these Regulations respecting the transportation of dangerous goods that are explosives on board a passenger carrying vessel apply to a passenger carrying vessel that is transporting more than 12 passengers.

Use of 49 CFR for Non-Regulated Dangerous Goods

1.11 When a substance is regulated in the United States by 49 CFR but is not regulated in Canada by these Regulations, a person may transport the substance between Canada and the United States by road vehicle or railway vehicle in accordance with all or part of 49 CFR.

1.12 [Repealed, SOR/2023-155, s. 7]

1.13 [Repealed, SOR/2023-155, s. 7]

1.14 [Repealed, SOR/2002-306, s. 5]

Special Cases

150 kg Gross Mass Exemption

• 1.15 (1) Part 3 (Documentation), Part 4 (Dangerous Goods Safety Marks), Part 5 (Means of Containment), Part 6 (Training) and Part 8 (Reporting Requirements) do not apply to the handling, offering for transport or transporting of dangerous goods on a road vehicle, a railway vehicle or a vessel on a domestic voyage if

  • (a) in the case of

    • (i) dangerous goods included in Class 2, Gases, they are in one or more small means of containment in compliance with the requirements for transporting gases in Part 5 (Means of Containment), except that, in the case of dangerous goods that are UN1950, AEROSOLS, or UN2037, GAS CARTRIDGES, the requirement in section 8.1.7 of CGSB-43.123 that aerosol containers and gas cartridges be tightly packed in a strong outer packaging does not apply, or

    • (ii) dangerous goods not included in Class 2, they are in one or more small means of containment designed, constructed, filled, closed, secured and maintained so that under normal conditions of transport, including handling, there will be no release of the dangerous goods that could endanger public safety;

  • (b) except for dangerous goods included in Class 2, Gases, the dangerous goods are contained in one or more means of containment each of which has a gross mass less than or equal to 30 kg;

  • (c) the gross mass of all dangerous goods

    • (i) transported on the road vehicle or the railway vehicle is less than or equal to 150 kg, and

    • (ii) transported on the vessel on a domestic voyage is less than or equal to 150 kg, excluding dangerous goods in a road vehicle or railway vehicle being transported on the vessel; and

  • (d) the dangerous goods are in a quantity or concentration available to the general public and are transported

    • (i) by a user or purchaser of the dangerous goods, or

    • (ii) by a retailer to or from a user or purchaser of the dangerous goods.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to dangerous goods that

  • (a) are in a quantity or concentration that requires an ERAP;

  • (b) require a control or emergency temperature;

  • (c) are included in Class 1, Explosives, except for UN numbers UN0012, UN0014, UN0044, UN0055, UN0105, UN0131, UN0161, UN0173, UN0186, UN0191, UN0197, UN0276, UN0312, UN0323, UN0335 if classified as a consumer firework, UN0336, UN0337, UN0351, UN0373, UN0378, UN0404, UN0405, UN0431, UN0432, UN0454, UN0499, UN0501, UN0503, UN0505 to UN0507, UN0509 and UN0510;

  • (d) are included in Class 2.1, Flammable Gases, and are in a cylinder with a capacity greater than 46 L;

  • (e) are included in Class 2.3, Toxic Gases;

  • (f) are included in Class 4, Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances that on Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases (Water-reactive Substances); and in Packing Group I;

  • (g) are included in Class 5.2, Organic Peroxides, unless they are allowed to be transported as limited quantities in accordance with section 1.17 and column 6(a) of Schedule 1;

  • (h) are liquids included in Class 6.1, Toxic Substances, and Packing Group I;

  • (i) are included in Class 6.2, Infectious Substances; or

  • (j) are included in Class 7, Radioactive Materials, and are required to be licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

500 kg Gross Mass Exemption

• 1.16 (1) Part 3 (Documentation), Part 4 (Dangerous Goods Safety Marks) and Part 5 (Means of Containment) do not apply to the handling, offering for transport or transporting of dangerous goods on a road vehicle, a railway vehicle or a vessel on a domestic voyage if

  • (a) in the case of

    • (i) dangerous goods included in Class 2, Gases, they are in one or more small means of containment in compliance with the requirements for transporting gases in Part 5 (Means of Containment), or

    • (ii) dangerous goods not included in Class 2, Gases, they are in one or more means of containment

      • (A) each of which has a gross mass less than or equal to 30 kg and that is designed, constructed, filled, closed, secured and maintained so that under normal conditions of transport, including handling, there will be no accidental release of the dangerous goods that could endanger public safety, or

      • (B) that are drums in compliance with the requirements of section 5.12 of Part 5 (Means of Containment), for transporting dangerous goods in drums;

  • (b) the gross mass of all dangerous goods

    • (i) transported on the road vehicle or the railway vehicle is less than or equal to 500 kg, and

    • (ii) transported on the vessel on a domestic voyage is less than or equal to 500 kg, excluding the dangerous goods in a road vehicle or railway vehicle being transported on the vessel;

  • (c) each means of containment has displayed on one side, other than a side on which it is intended to rest or to be stacked during transport,

    • (i) the dangerous goods safety marks required by Part 4 (Dangerous Goods Safety Marks), or

    • (ii) for dangerous goods, other than dangerous goods included in Class 2, Gases, the shipping name of the dangerous goods and the marks required for them in one of the following Acts and regulations, as long as those marks are legible and visible during handling and transporting in the same manner as dangerous goods safety marks:

      • (A) the Pest Control Products Act and its regulations,

      • (B) the Hazardous Products Act and its regulations, or

      • (C) the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and its regulations;

  • (d) the dangerous goods are accompanied by a shipping document or document that is located, for a road or railway vehicle or a vessel, in accordance with the requirements for location of a shipping document in sections 3.7 to 3.9 of Part 3 (Documentation); and

  • (e) any document referred to in paragraph (d), other than a shipping document, includes the following information in the following order:

    • (i) the primary class of the dangerous goods, following the word “Class” or “Classe”, and

    • (ii) the total number of means of containment, on which a dangerous goods safety mark is required to be displayed, for each primary class, following the words “number of means of containment” or “nombre de contenants”.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to dangerous goods that

  • (a) are in a quantity or concentration that requires an ERAP;

  • (b) require a control or emergency temperature;

  • (c) are included in Class 1, Explosives, except for

    • (i) explosives included in Class 1.4S, or

    • (ii) UN numbers UN0191, UN0197, UN0276, UN0312, UN0336, UN0403, UN0431, UN0453 and UN0493;

  • (d) are included in Class 2.1, Flammable Gases, and are in a cylinder with a capacity greater than 46 L;

  • (e) are included in Class 2.3, Toxic Gases;

  • (f) are included in Class 4, Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances that on Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases (Water-reactive Substances); and in Packing Group I;

  • (g) are included in Class 5.2, Organic Peroxides, unless they are allowed to be transported as limited quantities in accordance with section 1.17 and column 6(a) of Schedule 1;

  • (h) are liquids included in Class 6.1, Toxic Substances, and Packing Group I;

  • (i) are included in Class 6.2, Infectious Substances; or

  • (j) are included in Class 7, Radioactive Materials, and are required to be licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Limited Quantities Exemption

• 1.17 (1) A quantity of dangerous goods, other than explosives, is a limited quantity if

  • (a) the dangerous goods are in one or more means of containment designed, constructed, filled, closed, secured and maintained so that under normal conditions of transport, including handling, there will be no accidental release of the dangerous goods that could endanger public safety; and

  • (b) each outer means of containment has a gross mass that is less than or equal to 30 kg and

    • (i) if the dangerous goods are a solid or a liquid, the goods in each inner means of containment are in a quantity that is less than or equal to the number shown in column 6(a) of Schedule 1, or

    • (ii) if the dangerous goods are a gas, including a gas in a liquefied form, each means of containment in which they are contained has a capacity less than or equal to the number shown in column 6(a) of Schedule 1.

• (2) Part 3 (Documentation), Part 4 (Dangerous Goods Safety Marks), Part 5 (Means of Containment), Part 6 (Training), Part 7 (Emergency Response Assistance Plan) and Part 8 (Reporting Requirements) do not apply to the handling, offering for transport or transporting of limited quantities of dangerous goods on a road vehicle, a railway vehicle or a vessel on a domestic voyage if each means of containment is legibly and durably marked on one side, other than a side on which it is intended to rest or to be stacked during transport, with the mark illustrated in subsection (5).

• (3) When a limited quantity of dangerous goods is in a means of containment that is inside another means of containment, the inner means of containment is not required to be marked if

  • (a) the gross mass of the outer means of containment is less than or equal to 30 kg;

  • (b) the outer means of containment is not intended to be opened during transport; and

  • (c) the outer means of containment is legibly and visibly marked, on a contrasting background, with the mark illustrated in subsection (5).

• (4) When a limited quantity of dangerous goods is in a means of containment that is inside an overpack, the following information must be displayed on the overpack unless the marks on the small means of containment are visible through the overpack:

  • (a) the word “Overpack” or “Suremballage” or ; and

  • (b) the mark illustrated in subsection (5), legibly and visibly marked on a contrasting background.

• (5) The mark is a square on point, and the line forming the square on point must be at least 2 mm wide. The top and bottom portions must be black and the central portion must be white or a contrasting colour. Each side of the mark must be at least 100 mm long. The letter “Y” may be displayed in the centre of the mark if the limited quantity is in compliance with the ICAO Technical Instructions. If the size of the means of containment so requires, the length of each side may be reduced to not less than 50 mm, provided that the mark remains clearly visible.

• (6) Until December 31, 2020, instead of being marked with the mark illustrated in subsection (5), a means of containment may have displayed on it

  • (a) the words “Limited Quantity” or “quantité limitée”;

  • (b) the abbreviation “Ltd. Qty.” or “quant. ltée”;

  • (c) the words “Consumer Commodity” or “bien de consommation”; or

  • (d) the UN number of each limited quantity of dangerous goods placed within a square on point.

• (7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(d), the line forming the square on point must be black and be at least 2 mm wide. If the dangerous goods have different UN numbers, the square on point must be large enough to include each UN number, but in any case each side must be not less than 50 mm long. The UN numbers must be at least 6 mm high. The line and UN numbers must be on a contrasting background.