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Safe packaging and transport of nuclear substances

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and Transport Canada jointly regulate the packaging and transport of nuclear substances in Canada. The CNSC is also responsible for certifying transport packages when required, and issuing transport licences under specific circumstances.

Overview

Over 750,000 shipments containing different nuclear substances are transported to, from and within Canada every year. The majority of these are routine shipments of nuclear substances used for medical, industrial, academic and research, and commercial applications. These shipments include:

  • medical isotopes
  • products for consumer use, like smoke detectors
  • radiation devices such as portable gauges and exposure devices
  • uranium ore
  • fuel for nuclear power plants
  • nuclear waste

Nuclear substances are transported in packages that are selected based on the nature, form and quantity and/or activity of the substances. All package types must comply with general design requirements to ensure that they can be:

  • handled safely and easily
  • secured properly
  • able to withstand routine transport conditions

Transport of nuclear substances in Canada

Learn how the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates the transport of nuclear substances in Canada—from packing to delivery.

Transcript

Soft, uplifting music plays.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission signature appears.

Text appears: The transport of nuclear substances in Canada is safe and highly regulated.

Narrator: The transport of nuclear substances in Canada is safe and highly regulated. Anyone who transports nuclear substances must follow strict requirements set by Transport Canada and by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, or the CNSC.

Two shields, each inscribed with a check mark, appear. The shield on the left sits on a green background with the word “Safe” below it. The shield next to it sits on a blue background with the words “Highly regulated” below it.

An illustration of a person reviewing a document appears. To the right, 4 vertically stacked shields with check marks appear one at a time. A hand holding a certificate slides in from the left, and a blue truck rolls in just below it.

The words “Transport Canada” and “Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission” fly in from opposite sides and meet in the middle just below the image.

A map of Canada appears to the left. To the right, a number counter appears with large green numbers rolling up to reach the number 750,000. As the counter goes up, the map of Canada fills up with the colour blue from the bottom to the top until the counter stops and the map is solid blue.

Text appears: 750,000 shipments of nuclear substances are transported to, from and within Canada every year.

Narrator: About three quarters of a million shipments of nuclear substances are transported to, from and within Canada every year. The vast majority of these shipments contain substances that are used for medical, industrial, academic, research and commercial purposes.

A green rectangle, representing an empty shipment, fills the screen. Five smaller white rectangles fly in from the right to fill the shipment. A bell-like sound marks the appearance of each rectangle. Each one has an illustration representing the types of substances that shipments can contain: medical, industrial, academic, research and commercial. The image freezes on the screen for a moment.

Narrator: Only a very small proportion of shipments include radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel.

The shipment image zooms out to reveal a total of 12 similar shipments stacked in a blue transport truck. As the image zooms out, a small purple package can be seen, representing radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel. It continues to zoom out, emphasizing the very small proportion of the radioactive waste and used fuel in comparison to other the shipments in the truck. The blue truck turns green, and drives to the left, disappearing from view. A simple sketch of trees and a landscape remains on the screen.

The screen is divided in the middle by a thin horizontal black line . On the left side is an image of a transport truck. In the background there are mountains and trees, and a large map is floating, showing a route with a green line. On the right side of the screen is a character looking down at a tablet, and a digital map showing the route with a green line is in the background. The 2 green lines begin to simultaneously disappear and the screen fades to white.

Narrator: Routes for transporting higher-risk material are not shared publicly to keep the material safe and to protect people and the environment.

At the left of the screen, a blue transport truck appears with a map flashing in the background. An oversized character wearing a red hooded shirt and a face mask is gripping the truck. A circle with a diagonal slash forms around this image, and the music becomes dramatic.

A scene to the right emerges, pushing the scene on the left away and moving to the centre. This scene features a nature composition, with 2 large mountains and trees in the background. A brown bear and its cub watch salmon jump in and out the water. Across the river is a family: One character is standing up looking at a trail map, and the other is kneeling down with a child, admiring the vegetation. A rabbit appears from behind the person kneeling, and a bird can be seen flying far in the distance. The scene is enclosed by a green circle, and a pair of oversized hands fly in to hold the circle, demonstrating protection. The scene fades to white.

A package designer is at a workstation. Packages move across a conveyor belt until they reach the designer who, using an index finger, activates the design process. Gears begin to turn and lights flash. Packages roll out on the belt and more packages roll in. A small globe with a green shield appears at the centre, expanding to cover the screen before it fades out.

Narrator: For nuclear substances, safety relies heavily on the design of the transport package. Each package must meet the CNSC’s requirements, which are based on international standards. These standards ensure that packages are secure, can be handled safely, and are strong enough to withstand routine transport conditions.

Three individuals at the centre of a scene, with 2 green shields – 1 on either side of them. One person is looking at a tablet and the others are pointing to a location drop pin. A drone flies up from the ground while a plane flies across the sky. A train rolls in from the left while a ship moves in from the right, below the characters, and traffic-like sounds such as horns and engines can be heard in the background.

Narrator: For packages carrying high-risk material, the requirements are even more robust, and packages are tested to ensure that they are safe in the event of an accident.

A truck with high-risk material is at a testing facility. This image becomes smaller as it moves to the top left corner of the screen, fading to reveal 4 quadrants, each displaying a different scene. Text in the centre of the screen reads “Tests simulate potential accidental conditions.”

The top left quadrant shows a package being dropped to the ground from a high distance, with a worker observing. The scene at the top right shows a package being exposed to high temperatures. In the bottom left quadrant, a package is submerged in water. At the bottom right, a blue transport truck is carrying a package. The screen zooms in on the truck, which turns green and rolls out of the scene.

Narrator: CNSC engineers certify packages for use in Canada for the highest-risk quantities and types of nuclear substances.

Three engineers holding documents and pens are looking at a high-risk package and nodding. This image moves up to the left to reveal an image of a certificate with a map of Canada. To the left of the certificate is a hand holding up a stamp. As the hand comes down and uses the stamp, the word “CERTIFIED” appears below it, and the certificate badge changes from blue to green.

Narrator: All transport activities involving nuclear substances must comply with CNSC regulations, even though most shipments do not require a licence. When required, transport licences are issued by a designated officer on behalf of the Commission.

An oversized image shows an inspector sitting over an exit gate. A green truck rolls to the gate; the inspector has his hand up and taps a green shield appearing as the truck pulls up. A check mark appears in the shield, which activates the barrier arm to raise up to let the truck go through. Another truck pulls up, but this time the shield appears in yellow to indicate that a licence is required. A licensing document comes up from below and reaches the shield. The shield turns green, the check mark activates, the barrier arm raises up, truck rolls ahead and scene fades to white.

Narrator: CNSC inspectors conduct frequent compliance checks to verify proof of training for transport workers, review documents, and inspect packages to ensure that they are properly prepared for transport.

A scene is split into 4 quadrants. The top left shows an inspector taking a close look at the compliance report on a tablet. At the top right is a person sitting at a desk taking training. There is an image of a green truck on the computer screen and a training certificate flies in from the right. The bottom left shows an inspector reviewing the documents as an industrial cart with packages rolls up to a check point. The bottom right shows an inspector reviewing packages before being loaded for transport. A green circle with a check mark appears on the documents and the inspector nods. The scene fades to white.

Narrator: Inspectors have the power to stop the transport of nuclear substances if the packages do not comply with our regulations.

In the middle of the screen is a map with an inspector in front, their hand facing forward. A dark grey truck rolls in from the left towards the inspector. The inspector’s hand turns up and gets larger to signal “stop”; a banner with a lock and the word “STOP” appears in the top left corner of the map – all red. A yellow shield with an exclamation mark expands and covers the middle of the truck. The scene fades out.

Four previously seen scenes fly in and stay close to each corner of the screen. The top left is the scene showing a designer working on packages. The top right scene shows methods of transportation such as a drone, truck, airplane, train and ship. The bottom left scene displays a transport route for higher-risk materials, with the route disappearing (not shared publicly). The bottom right shows a nature scene with an adult brown bear and its cub, watching salmon jump in and out of the water, surrounded by mountains. Across the river is a family enjoying nature, one person is standing up looking at a trail map, and the other kneeling down facing a child, both admiring the vegetation. A rabbit hops behind the parent and child, and an eagle can be seen and heard in the distance. A green circle forms around this scene and a pair of oversized hands fly in to hold the green circle to signify protection. The screen turns green.

Narrator: From packaging to delivery, the CNSC’s oversight of the transport of nuclear substances in Canada ensures the protection of the environment as well as the and the health, safety, and security of all people in Canada.

The screen fills with white, and a blue banner opens up from the middle, displaying the hyperlink text for the CNSC website, reading “nuclearsafety.gc.ca”. The banner turns green and the screen fades to white. The Government of Canada federal identity wordmark appears. The video closes with a short musical outro.

Key points

Note these key points about the packaging and transport of nuclear substances:

  • Transport safety is jointly regulated by the CNSC and Transport Canada.
  • Packaging standards are based on international guidelines.
  • Packages used for higher-risk nuclear substances must be certified by the CNSC.
  • Transport licences are required in specific cases.
  • All parties involved in the packaging and transport of nuclear substances have defined responsibilities to ensure safe handling, documentation and emergency preparedness.
  • All accidents and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately to the CNSC.

Ensuring the safe transport of nuclear substances

The CNSC shares responsibility with Transport Canada for ensuring the safe transport of nuclear substances. This means that the transport of nuclear substances is subject to the requirements of the following regulations:

The PTNSR 2015 relies on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) SSR-6, Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, 2018 Edition through an ambulatory reference. An ambulatory reference is the incorporation of a document into a regulation, even as it is changed over time. This ensures that the PTNSR 2015 will continue to align with international regulations as they are modified.

The PTNSR 2015 covers all aspects of the packaging and transport of nuclear substances. It also covers all phases of transport, from the preparation of packages for shipment to the package unloading at the destination.

The CNSC published REGDOC-2.14.1, Volume I: Information Incorporated by Reference in Canada’s Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, 2015. It was published to help the regulated community comply with the PTNSR 2015. REGDOC-2.14.1 links provisions in the regulations to relevant content in:

  • the IAEA Regulations
  • the Nuclear Safety and Control Act
  • other CNSC regulations
  • TDG Regulations and other related information

The TDG Regulations provide the requirements for the transport of all classes of dangerous goods. The PTNSR 2015 is concerned solely with nuclear substances. Both regulations ensure the:

  • health, safety and security of people
  • protection of the environment

Both the PTNSR 2015 and the TDG Regulations apply to the packaging and transport of nuclear substances by any mode of transportation, unless specifically excepted or exempted by either regulation. CNSC inspectors regularly conduct compliance inspections of consignors, consignees and carriers. This ensures the transport of nuclear substances is done in compliance with both regulations.

The CNSC and Transport Canada also work with provincial/territorial organizations to ensure shipments are completed safely.

A circle made-up of four connected puzzle pieces demonstrating “Who Does What” with respect to the safe transportation of nuclear substances in Canada. Each puzzle piece represents different ownership of responsibilities in the process. Text version below.
Long description

Safely Transporting Nuclear Substances in Canada: Who Does What?

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

  • Establish classification criteria for the transport of nuclear substances and packages
  • Establish packaging standards
  • Certification of packages used to transport higher-risk nuclear substances
  • Issuance of transport licences
  • Review of transportation security plans
  • Establish requirements for radiation protection programs

Provincial

  • Drivers’ licences and vehicle safety requirements
  • Speed limits, load securement and the weights allowed
  • First response in the event of an emergency
  • Highway and road safety and law enforcement

Safety and security

CNSC and Transport Canada

  • Communication of hazards (via labelling and marking of packages; transport documents; and placarding requirements for vehicles)
  • Reporting requirements

Transport Canada

  • Federal transport regulations for all major modes of transport, including modal-specific requirements for road, air, rail, marine
  • Training requirements of all persons who handle or transport dangerous goods in Canada
  • Operation of Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) and management of emergency response assistance plans (ERAPs)

Licensing and certification

The CNSC also issues certificates and licences under the PTNSR 2015 for specific packages or shipments of nuclear substances.

Certification of transport packages and special form radioactive material

The CNSC regulates all aspects of the packaging and transport of nuclear substances. This includes the design, production, use, inspection, maintenance and repair of some packages.

The PTNSR 2015 requires that certain types of package design are certified by the CNSC before being used in Canada. It also includes provisions for the certification of special form radioactive material. These provisions specify that the sealed source must be strong enough to maintain leak tightness under the conditions of use and wear for which it was designed.

Learn more about the certification process for transport packages. See the list of CNSC certified transport packages and special form radioactive material.

Transport licences

The transport of nuclear substances is generally a regulated activity in Canada, with CNSC licensees involved in most shipments. The transport of nuclear substances does not require a CNSC transport-specific licence, except in the following circumstances:

  • transport of Category I, II or III nuclear material
  • transport of nuclear substances while in transit
  • transport of nuclear substances contained in large objects
  • transport of nuclear substances when the transport cannot meet all of the regulatory requirements
  • transport of nuclear substances that require a multilateral approval of shipments
  • transport of nuclear substances that require a special use vessel

Learn more about the transport licensing process.

Nuclear substances in transport

Regulated shipments of nuclear substances are required to have standardized marking and labelling. They must be accompanied by a shipping document that contains specific information. This ensures workers, members of the public and first responders can easily recognize the hazard associated with a regulated package.

Each person involved in packaging and transporting of regulated nuclear substances has a key safety role and must be trained accordingly, except in relation to excepted packages.

Consignors (senders) are responsible, among other duties, for:

  • the proper classification and packaging of the nuclear substances
  • the marking and labelling of the packages
  • the preparation of the appropriate transport documents to accompany the shipments

Carriers are responsible for ensuring that:

  • the packages have been properly loaded and secured on the means of transport
  • safety marks remain properly displayed at all times

Consignees (receivers) are responsible for:

  • verifying that the packages have not been damaged or tampered with during transport
  • ensuring that the nuclear substances are properly unloaded from the packages

Carriers may include shipping lines, airlines and air cargo shippers, rail companies, couriers and trucking companies. Most are not CNSC licensees.

Each carrier of packages other than excepted packages must comply with the requirements of the PTNSR 2015. This includes the requirement to have a radiation protection program in place to ensure the protection and safety of workers, the general public and the environment due to transport activities.

Learn more about requirements for the radiation protection program for carriers.

Security in transport

A transport security plan must be submitted to the CNSC before any transport is approved in some cases. REGDOC-2.12.3, Security of Nuclear Substances: Sealed Sources and Category I, II and III Nuclear Material, offers assistance in preparing a written transportation security plan.

This plan includes a threat assessment and outlines measures such as:

  • escort personnel
  • communication arrangements
  • security searches prior to shipment
  • contingency plans in case of a mechanical breakdown of the vehicle
  • protocols to be followed during scheduled stops or unscheduled delays

Transport security plans and routes are classified as prescribed information and cannot be shared with the public.

Transport accidents

Consignors (senders), carriers and consignees (receivers) of packages other than excepted packages have specific requirements under the PTNSR 2015 and the TDG Regulations. They must have measures in place to respond to unusual situations involving the transport of their nuclear substances.

The TDG Regulations also require the consignor to include a 24-hour telephone number on the transport document that accompanies packages containing nuclear substances. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that appropriate technical assistance is immediately available to emergency responders. This requirement does not apply to excepted packages.

The PTNSR 2015 requires that all accidents and dangerous occurrences are reported to the CNSC immediately. CNSC staff can follow up to provide appropriate technical information and advice to responders onsite once they are notified of a transport accident involving nuclear substances. CNSC staff can also ensure that adequate actions are taken to lessen the consequences of the event. They can be deployed immediately, if needed, to provide guidance on managing the incident.

The consignor’s emergency response plan or transport plan contains the procedures to follow in the event of an accident. The plan details:

  • the response actions to be taken
  • the resources available to mitigate the situation
  • how to return the accident area to normal conditions

Outreach and engagement

Licensees and applicants have a responsibility to inform communities about their ongoing or proposed projects and activities. The CNSC also has a role to play in outreach and engagement related to licensed facilities and activities. In fact, the CNSC mission includes the following responsibilities:

  • disseminating objective scientific, technical and regulatory information
  • strengthening confidence through open communication and engagement to build and foster trusted relationships with Indigenous Nations and other communities in Canada and globally

The CNSC has engaged, and will continue to engage upon request, with interested Indigenous Nations and the public to meet and discuss the CNSC’s regulatory requirements and oversight of the transport of nuclear substances.

Related links

Packaging and transportation of nuclear substances

Protecting people and the environment

Indigenous relations

Stakeholder engagement

Contact us

Contact the CNSC for any questions related to the packaging and transport of nuclear substances in Canada.

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