Regulations

The industry has a vital role to play in accident prevention.

An important goal for the CPA is to continue advancing a culture of safety within the propane industry based on a strong foundation of operational and corporate leadership.

As a CPA member company, you have committed to the Reliable Propane Fiable© principles to continuously improve health and safety within your organization, reducing risks and effectively raising the bar for safety across the industry.

Part of the CPA’s mandate is to ensure that standards and their enforcement are reasonable, cost-effective and safety-based. Regulatory requirements should be reflective of members’ realistic situations and do not cause unnecessary burden on propane users.

Industry regulators and contact information

The storage, transportation, handling and use of propane are regulated by a variety of acts and regulations within federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions.

For questions on these subjects

Contact the TDG regional office below or CANUTEC at 613-992- 4624:

Atlantic
1-866-814-1477
TDG-TMDAtlantic@tc.gc.ca

Quebec
1-514-283-5722
TMD-TDG.Quebec@tc.gc.ca

Ontario
1-416-973-1868
TDG-TMDOntario@tc.gc.ca

Prairie & Northern
1-888-463-0521
TDG-TMDPNR@tc.gc.ca

Pacific
1-604-666-2955
TDGPacific-TMDPacifique@tc.gc.ca.

Transportation of Propane & Propane Cylinders

Transport Canada administers and enforces the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act & Regulations, which specifies requirements for transporting propane, such as means of containment, safety marks, training, permits and emergency response assistance plans.

The Canadian Propane Association and its subsidiary Emergency Response Assistance Canada offer the following services to its members to assist in complying with the TDG Act & Regulations:

TDG Emergency Response Assistance Plans (ERAPs)
The TDG Act requires that before a person offers for transport or imports certain dangerous goods, the person must have an approved Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP). For assistance with ERAPs, please see the Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) website.
Equivalency Certificates (Permits)
If a person wishes to carry on an activity related to transporting dangerous goods, in a way that is not technically in compliance with the TDG Regulations, he or she can apply for a permit for the activity if it can be shown to provide an equivalent level of safety and compliance with the intent of the regulations. The CPA has applied for and holds a number of these valid permits on behalf of members. For more information, see our Equivalency Certificates page.

Weights & Measures

Measurement Canada is the authority responsible for ensuring equity and accuracy where propane is bought and sold based on measurement.

Measurement Canada

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Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Environmental Emergency Regulations

Environmental Emergency (E2) plans are required by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for all industries that have large volumes of hazardous substances produced or stored at their facilities. ERAC can assist Plan Participants in meeting these regulations.

The objectives of the E2 Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) are to reduce the frequency and consequences of uncontrolled, unplanned or accidental releases of hazardous substances into the environment.

Under these regulations, ECCC requires any person who owns or manages propane on a property, at or above the threshold of 4.5 tons, to notify ECCC when this quantity threshold is met or when the maximum container capacity meets or exceeds this threshold. If the total quantity and container capacity threshold are both met, there is an additional requirement to prepare and exercise an E2 plan. The E2 plan ensures that any individual that owns or manages specific toxic or hazardous substances above a certain threshold has a plan for preparedness, prevention, response and recovery in the event of an environmental emergency.

Propane Storage & Handling

In Canada, provincial authorities regulate the storage and handling of propane, as well as facilities, contractors, equipment and appliances that use propane. This includes administering and enforcing safety codes and standards, inspections, licensing and permits for the propane industry. Please contact the appropriate authority below for advice on regulatory matters: