The "Canada Consumer Product Safety Act" Now in Force

After a protracted journey through Parliament totalling more than two and a half years, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) is now in force. This legislation will have a substantial effect on the operations of all companies involved in the consumer product supply chain, including importers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. This update summarizes these developments and highlights those issues which should be given particular attention by businesses now subject to this new regime.

The CCPSA in Brief

The Hazardous Products Act of 1985 (HPA) has, until now, served as the primary legislative basis for a relatively benign consumer protection and safety regime in Canada. The HPA establishes a permissive regime that allows the introduction and trade of products in the Canadian marketplace unless specifically regulated or prohibited. The HPA only provides government with limited authority to intervene in and control the production and distribution of