Canada Road & Rail Transport - Class 6 Packing Groups

If a substance is known to be included in Class 6.1 based on factual evidence published in technical journals or government publications, and if testing is not done to determine the packing group, the substance must be included in Packing Group I. If testing is undertaken, packing group designations are determined on the basis of testing results. The criterion for testing is outlined in Part 2, Sections 2.29 to 2.35, of the TDG Regulations.

Class 6.2 infectious substances are divided into one of two categories, which are designated by an uppercase letter A or B. Substances in category A are those that are transported in a form that is capable of causing disabling, life-threatening, or fatal disease in healthy humans or animals if exposure occurs. Examples of category A substances include Ebola virus, Hepatitis B cultures, and Poliovirus cultures. The second category, B, is for substances that do not meet the criteria for inclusion in category A.

Containment for Class 6 substances must follow specific rules outlined in Part 5, Section 5.16, of the TDG Regulations. There, containers are designated for the form and type of substance being transported. These containers are listed as Types 1A, 1B, and 1C, and are set out in CGSB-43.125, "Packaging of Infectious Substances, Diagnostic Specimens, Biological Products and Biomedical Waste for Transport," available from CGSB.

Safety marks for Category B substances must be displayed, instead of the Class 6.2, Infectious Substances label, on any small means of containment containing infectious substances. These are included in UN3373, BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B.

To learn more about Transporting Dangerous Goods in Canada visit our Transporting Dangerous Good by Road & Rail Online Training web page.