Canada Consumer Product Safety Act – Why You Need To Be Prepared

The federal government has passed the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), which will come into force on June 20, 2011. The CCPSA will replace Part I of the Hazardous Products Act (Canada).

Given the very broad scope of the CCPSA and the significant penalties under it, employers will need and want to be prepared when the CCPSA comes into force.

BROAD APPLICATION

The CCPSA applies to "consumer products", which is defined to mean "a product, including its components, parts or accessories, that may reasonably be expected to be obtained by an individual to be used for non-commercial purposes, including for domestic, recreational and sports purposes, and includes its packaging." For example, the CCPSA would capture the manufacture, distribution, sale, and advertising of pens, keys chains, toys, jewellery, and clothing.The CCPSA does not apply to items such as food, drugs, and cosmetics.