Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the packaging and transport of nuclear substances in Canada in cooperation with Transport Canada.

CNSC's responsibilities include:

• certifying packages that transport nuclear substances
• registering users of certified packaging
• certifying special form and low dispersible radioactive material
• conducting inspections of nuclear shipments for compliance with applicable regulations
• licensing carriers, importers and exporters of nuclear substances (where licences are required)
• evaluating radiation protection programs for transport

Thousands of packages containing nuclear substances are shipped to, from and within Canada every year. The majority of these are routine shipments whose contents could include:

• consumer products, such as smoke detectors
• medical products, such as radioisotopes used for diagnostic imaging procedures
• industrial products such as uranium ore and fuel rods for nuclear power plants
• sealed sources and radiation devices such as gauges and radiography cameras

Shipments of nuclear substances are required to have safety marks and shipping documents that indicate the nature of the contents. Companies transporting nuclear substances must train employees in their proper handling and identification, in accordance with the Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations and must also implement radiation protection programs.

Read the CNSC fact sheet on Regulating the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances in Canada.

Package types

Under section 16 of the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, radioactive material must be transported in one of the following types of packages:

• Excepted packages
• Industrial packages (Types IP-1, IP-2 and IP-3)
• Type A
• Type B or Type C package of a certified design
• A package for fissile material of a certified design
• A package for 0.1 kg or more of uranium hexafluoride of a certified design

The criteria for these packages are set out in the International Atomic Energy Agency's Transport of Radioactive Material.

Certification and registration

Excepted, Industrial and Type A packages must comply with regulations, but do not require certification from CNSC prior to being used for transport of nuclear substances.

On the other hand, Type B, Type C, and packages for fissile material and uranium hexafluoride must be certified by CNSC (that is, CNSC must approve the design of these packages). Applicants must submit package specifications to CNSC, which will determine if they meet requirements for shielding, containment, the ability to withstand impact and heat and other performance criteria.

Users must register with CNSC the use of a certified package. Registration to use a certified package signifies that users are aware of how to properly prepare the package for transport.

Transport licences

A CNSC licence is required to:

• transport Category I, II or III nuclear materials as defined in the Nuclear Security Regulations
• transport nuclear substances while "in transit" (nuclear substances that make a stop in Canada while traveling from one foreign country to another, although Canada is not the final destination)
• package or transport nuclear substances under "special arrangement" as defined in section 5 of the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations

For more information on packaging and transport of nuclear substances in Canada and requirements and applications for certification, registration and licensing, please contact the Packaging and Transport Licensing Division.