Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) and Surface Coating Materials Regulations

Fact Sheet
November 2010

News Release: Harper Government Takes Action to Protect Children from Lead Exposure

Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations

As part of its Lead Risk Reduction Strategy (LRRS) for Consumer Products, Health Canada has introduced the Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations. The Regulations limit the lead content of accessible parts of certain consumer products to 90 mg/kg total lead (0.009%). The products affected by these regulations are known as Group 1 under the Lead Risk Reduction Strategy for Consumer Products. Group 1 products were given priority because their typical use pattern involves the product being brought to the mouth of children.

Affected Products:

Group 1 Products are defined as:

1. products, other than kitchen utensils, that are brought into contact with the user' mouth in the course of normal use (kitchen utensils will be covered under separate foodware regulations); and
2. products intended for use in play or learning by children under three years of age.

These products include:

• All toys intended for children under three years of age
• Baby bottle nipples, soothers, baby bibs
• Beverage straws, drinking spouts, and other drinking aids
• Mouthpieces of musical instruments
• Sports mouthpieces

Surface Coating Materials Regulations

These amended regulations significantly lower the level of total lead allowed in consumer paints and other surface coating materials from 600 mg/kg to 90 mg/kg (0.009%). This new lead limit is among the strictest in the world, and will effectively eliminate the intentional use of lead in most consumer paints, as well as surface coating materials applied to certain affected products.

Affected Products:

• Any paint or surface coating material* purchased at retail by the general public for use in and around the home
• furniture and other articles for children that contain a surface coating material.
• toys, equipment and other products for use by a child in learning or play that contain a surface coating material
• pencils and artists' brushes that contain a surface coating material

*Surface coating material means paint or other similar material that dries to a solid film when a layer of it is applied to a surface, such as a spray paint, primer, clear coat finishes, etc. The regulations would not cover materials such as wood stains that become engrained in the product.