Effective June 15, 2026, Health Canada is changing the compliance test for playpens with removable floor pads and removable foldable components. Health Canada has developed an interim policy that modifies compliance testing under the Playpen Regulations, SOR/2018-186 (the “Regulation”), replacing the existing test method1 for vertical displacement with an approach that aligns with ASTM F406-24 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards (“ASTM F406-24”). Manufacturers and distributors of playpens with flexible or soft bases sold in Canada should ensure their testing is up to date and compliant with the new requirements.
Background
The Regulation sets specific limits on how far a playpen’s floor can move upward, a requirement designed to prevent gaps where a child’s head could become entrapped. Section 29 of the Regulation currently requires that a removable floor pad composed of a rigid panel or series of rigid panels not be displaced upward more