N.O.S.

When choosing a proper shipping name, you look first for the substance itself, then for either chemical family name (Alcohols, N.O.S) or product purpose (Paint), and finally when neither of these options fits a generic name.

A generic name is based on the hazards of the substances in the mixture. For example, Flammable liquid, toxic, corrosive, N.O.S would include a flammable component, a toxic component, and a corrosive component.

The N.O.S after the shipping name stands for “Not Otherwise Specified”.

The Transport Canada FAQ page includes this FAQ:

Schedule 1

What do the letters « N.O.S. » mean?

N.O.S. means « Not Otherwise Specified ». It describes dangerous goods that do not have a specific entry by name in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations.

For example, both gasoline and diesel fuel are listed by name in Schedule 1. If these two substances were mixed, the resulting mixture of these two products would still be regulated as a dangerous goods. However, the mixture could no longer be described as “gasoline” or “diesel” since it would no longer have a specific name in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations. As such, the mixture would be classified as UN1993 – FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S.

In order to complete a N.O.S. shipping name, you require a technical name to be added in parenthesis…or do you? The answer is not always. Depending on the regulation, the need for a technical name is identified by a symbol or special provision.

Technical name indicator:

49 CFR – indicated by a G in column 1
IATA – a ‘’★‘’ in column 2
IMDG – Special Provision 274
TDG – Special Provision 16

Let’s look at an example:

In the example below, Flammable liquid, N.O.S, taken from Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations, has a “16” as a special provision, meaning it requires a technical name.

In this example, Petroleum Distillates, N.O.S, also taken from Schedule 1 in the TDG regulations, does NOT have “16” as a special provision and thus does NOT require a technical name as part of the shipping name.