TORONTO – Lisa Raitt, federal Minister of Transport, announced new regulations for identifying and labelling dangerous goods transported by truck or rail in Canada.  

The new rules will be synched with U.S. and United Nations rules for easier cross-border compliance. A harmonized system is better for emergency first responders, too, Raitt said.

“Our government is committed to a transportation system that is safe, efficient and facilitates trade.  The changes … will create a safer environment for the movement of goods that are necessary in a strong, developed economy,” Raitt said.

The new regulations clarify how the danger placard is to be used to identify shipments of certain classes of dangerous goods, such as pool chemicals, propane and acetone, contained in small packages. They also introduce new safety marks to identify organic peroxides, marine pollutants and other dangerous goods transported in limited quantities.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on July 2, 2014, and will come into effect on July 14^th, 2014.