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Transportation of Dangerous Goods - Canada

Published 12/12/2018, 08:23 PM
Last Update 06/03/2021, 06:40 PM
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To comply with Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (the “Act”) and its regulations, Best Buy Canada requires that vendors correctly and accurately identify items which are dangerous goods or may contain dangerous goods.
 

Best Buy requires that:

  • all dangerous good be accompanied by the required documentation and classifications; and
  • all inbound shipments be accompanied by a completed shipping document. (Sample)



Under no circumstances will exceptions be made to the requirements under this policy. Please read the specific details below:
 

Under the Act, products containing any of the following may pose a risk to persons or property if mishandled, and are therefore considered dangerous:
 

  • explosives;
  • gases: compressed, deeply refrigerated, liquefied or dissolved under pressure;
  • flammable and combustible liquids;
  • flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances that on contact with water emit flammable gases;
  • oxidizing substances, organic peroxides;
  • poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances;
  • nuclear substances that are radioactive;
  • corrosives;
  • miscellaneous products (including substances such as asbestos; lithium batteries).

 

An overview of the requirements, tools and additional information sources, as well as a list of dangerous goods, is available on the:
 

 Transport Canada Website
 

Information specific to identification and handling of Lithium batteries is available on the:


Transport Canada Website
 

Vendors can visit the Canadian Transport Emergency Center (CANUTEC) website for more information; or in case of an emergency by calling:

  • 1-888-CAN-UTEC (226-8832) or
  • 1-613-996-6666
  • *666 on a mobile phone


Best Buy Canada will not provide legal advice regarding the Act. Please contact Transport Canada or consult independent legal counsel for any questions related to the Act.


Regulators for international goods recently announced new requirements mandating that all manufacturers and distributors provide proof of design and testing for all lithium batteries.


These policies and any updates take immediate effect, unless otherwise stated.

 



PRODUCT SETUP
 

In accordance with government regulations, Best Buy requires that the setup for any product SKU which contains, or is considered a dangerous good, must be a) properly classified; and b) accompanied by information and documentation as described below.
 

Safety Data Sheet or Product Data Sheet ("SDS"):

The SDS (formerly called Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS) contains information on potential health and safety effects of exposure to ingredients or substances contained within the product as well as safe handling and disposal methods of the product. The SDS is applicable to the material, not the SKU. If multiple SKUs share the same dangerous material, only one SDS is required. If any SKU contains multiple forms of dangerous material, a separate SDS is required for each type of dangerous material.
 

     For lithium batteries, details on the SDS must include:

  1. dangerous goods UN number;
  2. shipping name (or technical name if applicable);
  3. primary class;
  4. subsidiary class;
  5. packing group;
  6. toxicity (by inhalation);
  7. specific to batteries:
    • type;
    • number of batteries;
    • number of cells;
    • watt hours; and
  8. Safety Data Sheet (“SDS”)

 


     For all product other than lithium batteries, details on the SDS will include:

  1. UN Number;
  2. if product is a solid: mass per unit in kilograms (kg);
  3. if product is a liquid, compressed gas, or aerosol canister: volume of the container in liters (L); and
  4. information specific to the product in question. 

 

(SDS sample is for information only: Sample SDS Lithium Battery)


Each SDS must contain a unique ID number which should be referenced under each applicable SKU under the “SDS & TS Reference IDs” section on the SKU setup form on the Compliance tab. A digital copy of this sheet is required with the SKU setup.


UN Classification Table


Vendors will be required to certify at time of setup that their product is:

  1. accurately described;
  2. properly classified;
  3. inclusive of the appropriate safety markings; and
  4. accompanied by the required SDS.
     

 


As of January 1, 2020, all lithium battery or cell designs are required to be tested in accordance with IATA 60th edition in section 3.9.2.6 (g), UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Revision and amend. 1, Part III, sub-section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. Please use this link to obtain full details from the ‘What’s New’ section on the IATA Website. In response to this mandate, our product setup requirements have been updated as follows:



Test Summary Document ("TS")

The TS contains information about the completed testing of lithium product and is applicable to those batteries or cells and equipment powered by cells and batteries manufactured after June 30, 2003. The TS is applicable to the battery or cell, and not the SKU. If multiple SKUs share the same battery or cell, only one TS is required.


(TS samples are for information only: Sample Test Summaries)


Best Buy requires each active product SKU containing lithium batteries or cells to reference a TD, of which Best Buy has received a digital copy by January 1, 2020.

 

     The TS must include the following information:

 

  1. name of cell, battery, or product manufacturer, as applicable;
  2. cell, battery or product manufacturer’s name address, phone number, email address and website;
  3. test laboratory information including name, address, phone number, email address and website;
  4. a unique test report identification number;
  5. date of test report;
  6. description of cell or battery to include at a minimum:
    • lithium ion or lithium metal cell or battery;
    • mass of cell or battery;
    • watt-hour rating, or lithium content;
    • physical description of the cell/battery;
    • model numbers.
  7. list of tests conducted and results (pass/fail);
  8. reference to the assembled battery testing requirements, if applicable (i.e. UN Manual of Tests & Criteria, Rev. 3, subsection 38.3.3 (f) and 38.3.3 (g));
  9. reference to the revised edition of the UN Manual of Test and Criteria used and to amendments thereto (i.e. Rev 3); and
  10. a signature with name and title of signatory as an indication of the validity of the information provided.



Each TS must contain a unique ID number which should be referenced under each applicable SKU under the “SDS & TS Reference IDs” section on the SKU setup form on the Compliance tab. Effective immediately; Vendors must provide a digital copy of the TS with the SKU setup form.

Use this checklist to confirm your document complies with the regulations.
 

Note: TS requirements apply only to SKUs containing lithium batteries/cells and are supplementary to the existing SDS requirements.


At its sole discretion, Best Buy may a) reject incomplete setup requests; or b) exclude any product that does not have the required information from customer promotions; or c) return inventory for full credit if information is not provided upon request (in accordance with Exhibit B, Section 3.1.i.).
 

Under no circumstances will exceptions be made to the requirements under this policy.
 

 

INCOMING SHIPMENTS
 

Fully Regulated incoming shipments must be accompanied by a completed shipping documents.
 

(Shipping Document sample is for information only: Sample Shipping Document)

 

Vendor's must certify that product is:
 
  1. accurately described;
  2. properly classified;
  3. have the appropriate safety markings;
  4. are fit for transport; and
  5. are in accordance with the Regulations.



Shipments that are not accompanied by the correct and compete documents and markings shall be refused; or will be returned at the Vendors’ complete expense. Best Buy will charge back any costs, penalties, or fines incurred for non-compliance, pursuant to the terms of the Vendor Agreement.


Under no circumstances will exceptions be made to the requirements under this policy.
 

 

NON-COMPLIANT RETURN SHIPMENTS


Any Product returns shipments that include dangerous goods that do not comply with the requirements herein shall be at Vendor’s full expense.
 

  1. Vendor will arrange pickup of goods from the designated Best Buy warehouse and vendor will bear all liability for goods.
  2. Transfer of ownership and liability will occur at time of pickup from Best Buy.


Pick up of dangerous goods must be arranged within two (2) days from Best Buy’s requested date. Where vendor does not comply, Best Buy will arrange for disposal of the requested materials. All costs including administration fees will be deducted from the vendor in addition to the cost of the product.
 

Under no circumstances will exceptions be made to the requirements under this policy.


These new requirements do not supersede any other information currently being requested by Best Buy for compliance purposes. Failure to honestly and fully complete these requirements in anyway will result in the rejection of product by Best Buy during the onboarding process, and/or the removal of the product for sale, at the Vendor’s full cost.


The Vendor shall be subject to any fines, costs or penalties which are a direct result of non-compliance, up to and including full product return, and termination of the Vendor Agreement.

 

 

NOTICES

 

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