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Transportation of Pesticides

In Ontario, you must be a Certified Farmer if you wish to purchase and use Class 2 or 3 pesticides on your farm. However, you do not need to be a Certified Farmer or a Trained Assistant to pick pesticide products up from the vendor. Someone else may pick the pesticides up and transport them directly back to the farm.

Everyone who transports pesticides in Ontario must follow the laws and regulations regarding safe transportation of pesticides. The federal and provincial governments work together to ensure the safe transportation of pesticides.

Ontario Pesticides Act and Regulation 63/09

When transporting all pesticides in Ontario, you must meet the requirements under the Ontario Pesticides Act and Regulation.

All pesticides must be:

1. Separated from other commodities

The Regulation states: "No person shall transport or cause or permit the transportation of any Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 pesticide together with commodities that are,

• food or drink intended for human or animal consumption
• household furnishings, or
• toiletries, clothes, bedding or similar commodities

by a vehicle operated on any highway or road unless the pesticide being transported is separated from such commodities in a manner sufficient to prevent their contamination or likely contamination by the pesticide". (Reg. 63/09, s.115)

2. Secured in the vehicle

The Regulation states: "No person shall transport or cause or permit the transportation of a pesticide by a vehicle operated on any highway or road unless the pesticide is secured in a manner sufficient to prevent the escape or discharge of the pesticide from the vehicle". (Reg. 63/09, s.114 )

A secure load is also a requirement of the Regulations under The Highway Traffic Act.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations

Transportation of pesticides is regulated by two laws - the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations which is administered by Transport Canada at the federal level, and the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act and Regulations which is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation at the provincial level. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Provincial Police are responsible for enforcing these laws on the Ontario highways.

Under specific circumstances, pesticides are exempt from some federal/provincial requirements for dangerous goods.

Exception! If the pesticide the grower is transporting is classified as a poisonous or corrosive gas, or a substance that produces a flammable gas when mixed with water, the person transporting needs to follow all requirements. Methyl bromide is one pesticide used in Ontario that is a poisonous gas.

For example, pesticides are exempt from some requirements under the following situations:

1. Transport between the retail store and the farm or place of use

You are exempt from the Dangerous Goods Regulations when you are transporting most pesticides by road between the retail outlet and your farm or the place they will be used. The pesticide must be in the original packaging and/or container, and each container must hold less than 454 L (100 gals).

Currently there is no load limit placed on this exemption under the Dangerous Goods Regulations. However, there are weight restrictions based on the registered gross weight of your vehicle under The Highway Traffic Act. Be safe. Do not overload your vehicle as it may negatively affect the vehicle's braking mechanism.

2. Transport from the farm to the place of use by a farm-plated vehicle

When transporting pesticides by road from the farm to the place of use you are exempt from the Dangerous Goods Regulations as long as you:

• carry less than 500 kg of pesticide (weight of the load including the container)
• the distance is less than 50 km, and
• display on each container or package the labels or markings that were on the container or package when you bought the product.

3. Transport from the farm to the place of use by a non-farm plated vehicle

There are different requirements for vehicles that are not farm-plated. For any quantity and any distance you must:

• display on each container or package the labels or markings that were on the container or other package when you bought the product
• carry proper shipping papers, and
• make sure that the person transporting the pesticide has a valid Transportation of Dangerous Goods training certificate. The training certificate is valid for three years.

You need to display the appropriate Dangerous Goods placards on your truck if:

• you are carrying more than 500 kg of any product that is regulated as a Dangerous Good.

Note: Currently there are no placards for products that are classified as 9.2. This may change in the future.

4. Transport of tanks containing pesticides or pesticide solutions regulated as Dangerous Goods

Tanks that hold 5,000 litres or less of pesticide concentrate or pesticide solution must carry the appropriate Dangerous Goods placards before and after the pesticide application. No product identification number is required on the placard.

Find out what Dangerous Goods Regulations apply to your situation. Ask your farm supply outlet for information about the products you're transporting.

All manufacturing, formulating, or wholesale companies that handle pesticides should be familiar with the details of the requirements.

Commercial pesticide applicators who transport pesticides from storage areas to application sites or to other storage sites should be familiar with the requirements for the specific pesticides they handle.

Consider taking a Transportation of Dangerous Goods training course. Check Transport Canada's web site located at www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/info/training/train_org.htm for a list of organizations that provide Transportation of Dangerous Goods training.

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