Part 1 of the TDG Regulations contains useful information about symbols for units of measure, safety standards and requirements, definitions of important terms, and special cases where exemptions are allowed.
Part 1 also contains general provisions, which tell you who the regulations apply to, how to resolve conflicts between different parts of the TDG Regulations and which dangerous goods are forbidden from transport or have a quantity limit. Remember that requirements can differ for different modes of transportation.
Special Cases are actually exemptions to the TDG Regulations, that apply in certain situations. There are exemptions available for smaller quantities, such as limited quantities, for certain industries such as agriculture and emergency response agencies,or for specific substances such as fire extinguishers. Each special case provides exemptions to different parts of the regulations, provided certain conditions are met. .
Exemptions by Air
Excepted Quantities
Excepted Quantities means that very small amounts of dangerous goods are exempted from some regulations, but they still need to follow specific rules from the ICAO Technical Instructions.
Here are the main criteria:
- Inner and outer containers are limited to quantities not exceeding the limits set out in the Table corresponding to the applicable Excepted Quantities code
- Outer packages must be strong and made of materials like cardboard or wood boxes.
- Each package must have a special label called Excepted Quantity handling label. This label shows the class of the material and the shipper's name and address, if not already on the package.
- Excepted Quantity shipments cannot go through regular mail sorting.
Radioactive Material in Excepted Packages:
Limited amounts of radioactive materials, instruments, manufactured articles, or empty packagings can be shipped as excepted packages. Each package must have:
- The full name and address of the shipper and receiver.
- The package weight if it's over 50kg.
- A label saying "Radioactive Material, Excepted Package" with the UN number.
Dry Ice:
When dry ice is used as a refrigerant, there are fewer packaging and documentation rules. The package must be marked and labelled according to the ICAO TI.
It must show:
- the proper shipping name
- UN number
- net quantity of dry ice
- a class 9 hazard label.
Shipments of Biological Substances, Category B, also have exemptions from documentation rules, but certain details must be on the package and waybill.
It must show:
- the proper shipping name
- UN3373 mark
- a responsible person's name and phone number.
Limited Quantities by Air:
Small amounts of dangerous goods have different rules for air transport. While some packaging rules are waived, others still apply, including marking, labelling, and documentation requirements. Packages must have:
- The shipper and receiver's name and address.
- The proper shipping name and UN number with the letters "UN."
- All required hazard and handling labels
- The limited quantity Y mark
A full shipper’s declaration is needed for limited quantity shipments by air, and the waybill must show the DG icon with the fully regulated dangerous goods statement.
Exemptions by Ground
One of the more common special case exemptions is the 500 kg Gross Mass Exemption. The 500 kg Exemption is an alternative to preparing shipments as fully regulated, and simplifies packaging and paperwork. However, this exemption is limited to select classes/divisions of dangerous goods for ground transport only.
The conditions that need to be met are:
- The shipment must be one of the classes acceptable under the exemption
- Each package cannot weigh more than 30kg
- It must be marked and labeled
- The vehicle transporting the shipment cannot have more than 500kg TOTAL of dangerous goods on board, excluding limited quantities.
Limited Quantities
Limited Quantities are very common, especially in the small package courier system. This exemption lets shippers send substances in smaller amounts without needing to do paperwork, buy special packaging, or put on traditional hazard labels.
The rules say how much of each substance can be in the container, and the containers must be in good packaging. The total weight of the package must be 30kg or less, and each package must have one of these marks:
- The limited quantity mark
Excepted Quantities
This exemption is almost the same as the one for Excepted Quantities by air. It's for very small amounts of dangerous goods, as long as they follow the limits in the TDGR. Here are the rules they have to follow:
- Inner and outer containers are limited to quantities not exceeding the limits set out in the Table corresponding to the applicable Excepted Quantities code
- The outer packages must be strong and made of good materials like cardboard or wood boxes.
- Each package needs a label called an Excepted Quantity handling label. It shows what class the material is and the shipper's name and address.
In air regulations, shippers only need to put their name and address if it's not already on the package. But in ground regulations, they have to include it on the label no matter what.