News Release
2011-81
June 20, 2011
For immediate release

Backgrounder: Key Elements of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act

OTTAWA - Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Health Minister, and the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, are pleased to announce that the Canada Consumer

Product Safety Act is now the law of the land. The Act will replace 40-year old legislation with modern laws to protect Canadians from unsafe products.

"I'm pleased that our Government now has the power to remove dangerous products from the store shelves," said Minister Aglukkaq. "As a mom, the new legislation gives me more confidence in the toys and products I give to my child."

"Canadians gave our Government a strong mandate to continue our economic recovery, and part of this mandate is to look out for the Canadian consumer," said Minister Blaney.

The purpose of the new Act is to protect the health and safety of Canadians by addressing or preventing dangers posed by consumer products. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act

heightens industry's responsibility to ensure that they are not marketing potentially dangerous consumer products.

"Every year in Canada, more than 14,000 paediatric emergency room visits are for children under the age of 10 who have been injured by consumer products found in and around the home," says Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director, Safe Kids Canada. "The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act will be of great benefit to Canadians by improving the safety of products they purchase and helping to prevent unintentional injuries, especially for our children."

Over the last six months, the Government has been actively communicating with industry to inform them of their new obligations and requirements under the Act to help ensure a smooth transition.

Information sessions have been held across the country and a number of resources, including a Quick Reference Guide, have been posted on Health Canada's web site to help with industry

awareness of new responsibilities, including mandatory reporting of consumer product-related incidents.

Consumers are reminded that they too have a role to play in product safety. Products should always be used safely and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Health Canada is also interested in receiving reports of incidents or injuries from consumers related to consumer products.

For more information:

• Please consult the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act website: www.health.gc.ca/ccpsa
• Follow Health Canada on Twitter for updates: www.twitter.com/healthcanada
• Contact the Consumer Product Safety Directorate at CCPSA-LCSPC/HC-SC/GC/CA or toll free at 1-866-662-0666.

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