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ERAP – When?

By January 26, 2012January 29th, 2020Regulations

One of the conundrums of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG) is the requirement to have an ERAP for a UN number that is not listed in Schedule 1 of TDG.

The problem we run into is that Schedule 1 is only up to the 11th Edition of the UN Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods (model regulations). In section 1.3.1, item 39 in the table of standards indicates that TDG is at the 14th Edition of the model regulations. But since the 13th Edition of the model regulations, the UN has issued over 130 new classifications.

But section 1.10 of TDG states:

A person may use the appropriate classification set out in the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IMDG Code or the UN Recommendations to transport dangerous goods within Canada by a road vehicle, a railway vehicle or a ship on a domestic voyage if these Regulations or the document from which the classification is taken does not forbid their transport.

This means that if the consignor cannot find a classification in TDG, then the consignor can use a classification from the model regulations, ICAO Technical Instructions (TIs) or the IMDG Code. And this is where the conundrum lies. TDG section 7.1(12) states:

Any substance that would require an ERAP if its classification were determined in accordance with Part 2, Classification, requires an approved ERAP if its classification from the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IMDG Code or the UN Recommendations is used as permitted under section 1.10 of Part 1, Coming Into Force, Repeal, Interpretation, General Provisions and Special Cases.

For example, as the consignor, you have an IBC (1,500 L) of sodium cyanide solution, UN3414 to ship. As UN3414 is not listed in TDG, you go to the model regulations for the classification. But the model regulations don’t have an ERAP index, so how do you determine if an ERAP is required? Or, you have 2 x 20 L drums of iodine, UN3495, to be shipped and you use the TIs for your classification. The TIs don’t have an ERAP index, so how do you determine if an ERAP is required?

To determine if an ERAP is required for your shipment where the classification is not in TDG, go to: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/clear-newerapnumbers-87.htm and scroll to the table at the bottom of the page to see if your product is listed and what the ERAP index is. Please bear in mind that all the requirements of Part 7 apply to the numbers listed in this table.

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