Regulatory amendments to enhance safety in transportation of dangerous goods

OTTAWA, Ont. — The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations have been amended, in the interest of public safety, to reflect the re-classification of anhydrous ammonia (fertilizer) from non-flammable, non-toxic gas, to toxic gas.

The change in classification is partly in response to the Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation that Transport Canada review the primary class and safety marks for anhydrous ammonia, following three derailments involving releases of the gas. These derailments occurred near Britt, Ont., on Sept. 23, 1999; in Red Deer, Alta., on Feb. 2, 2001; and in Minot, N.D., on Jan. 18, 2002.

Additional regulatory amendments include changes regarding the transportation of infectious substances, as well as changes to the requirements for transporting explosives.

The amendments are technical in nature and are designed to make the TDG Regulations consistent with a number of new international and Canadian standards, modal requirements and technical developments for the transportation of dangerous goods. These changes also harmonize the regulations with recent changes to the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations.

The TDG Regulations are made under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. The Act and the regulations are intended to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods in Canada.

The amendments to the TDG Regulations were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on September 30, 2006 and Transport Canada has reviewed all comments received. The amended regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, today.