Login Quick Ship

Shipping dangerous goods or restricted items

Any articles or materials that may pose a risk to the environment, other property, health, or safety are considered as dangerous goods. Whether by their direct composition or by the elements included in their system, several daily used items such as cell phones, laptops, aerosols, perfumes, nail polish, and others are considered hazardous materials. It is essential to consult the requirements for transporting dangerous goods when shipping packages or merchandise that include such items.

 

Dangerous goods classes

To better identify the content of the packages that are sent, the Government of Canada classified dangerous goods under nine classes, each with their own divisions. They are classified in the following nine categories: 

Class 1: Explosives, including explosive within the meaning of the Explosives Act.

Class 2: Gases; compressed, deeply refrigerated, liquefied or dissolved under pressure

Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Class 4: Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances that on contact with water emit flammable gases

Class 5: Oxidizing substances; organic peroxides

Class 6: Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances

Class7: Radioactive materials and radioactive prescribed substances within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Control Act

Class 8: Corrosive Substances

Class 9: Miscellaneous products, substances or organisms considered by the Governor-in-Council to be dangerous to life, health, property or the environment when handled, offered for transport or transported and prescribed to be included in this class

 

Packing of dangerous goods and hazardous material

When shipping packages or merchandise containing dangerous goods, one essential element is to pack these items according to the current standards. The choice of proper packaging is essential when transporting hazardous materials to ensure the safety of the content itself and of the elements in the immediate environment.

For the shipping of dangerous goods or hazardous materials, it is the responsibility of the shipper to package, classify, identify, mark, label and complete the documents attached to the shipment in accordance with applicable governmental laws and regulations.

The person responsible for the packaging of dangerous goods must be adequately trained or under the direct supervision of a trained person to ensure that the packaging complies with the requirements for the Transport of Dangerous Goods. You should always ensure that you put the appropriate label on the package so that people involved in the transport can easily locate these packages and quickly get accurate information about their contents.

 

Shipping of prohibited or controlled items

It is prohibited to send objects prohibited by law, for which the importing/mailing contravenes an Act of Parliament, that fails to meet certain physical characteristics or certain marking requirements or that contain products or substances that could injure those handling the package or damage other shipped items.

The shipment of several items is highly regulated, it includes the shipping of:

To avoid any issues when shipping dangerous goods or restricted items, always ensure that your packages or merchandise are packed as indicated for their category and that they meet the applicable requirements. Click here for more information on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods requirements.  It is also important to be informed of the requirements of the destination country if the packages are sent abroad, as the regulations may differ from one country to another.