The Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA) reports Transport Canada has responded to numerous questions the trade group raised regarding the new lithium battery provisions in the Agency’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations and has confirmed these rules will take effect on July 1, 2015.
PRBA submitted a letter to Transport Canada earlier this year requesting clarification on a number of issues associated with the lithium battery shipping regulations, which generally are consistent with international dangerous goods requirements and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s lithium battery hazardous materials regulations.
PRBA also sought a six-month delay to January 1, 2016, in the implementation of the regulations.
“We appreciate Transport Canada’s willingness to consider our questions on the new regulations and our concerns with the July 1, 2015 mandatory compliance date,” PRBA Executive Director George Kerchner said.
He noted that these changes are the first update of the lithium battery provisions in the TDG Regulations in nearly 20 years and the substantive changes are expected to have a significant impact on shippers of new and used lithium batteries within Canada as well as the carriers transporting these batteries.
Transport Canada agreed with PRBA’s position on the new regulations applicable to shipping lithium batteries for disposal or recycling, the changes needed to the regulations for shipping prototype and low production lithium batteries and the changes to the language associated with United Nations battery testing requirements.
Transport Canada also acknowledged that the new documentation requirements for “consignments” of small lithium batteries may cause confusion amongst the regulated community and inspectors in Canada. The Agency offered to look into new wording to clarify the intent of the documentation provision.
Transport Canada also confirmed the packaging requirements applicable to large format lithium batteries.
