Harper Government's Consumer Product Safety Act Passes Parliament

News Release
2010-224
December 14, 2010
For immediate release

OTTAWA - Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health, is pleased to announce that the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), has been passed by Parliament and, upon Royal Assent, would become law.

"I am delighted that both the House of Commons and the Senate have recognized the need to update our product safety legislation," said Minister Aglukkaq. "The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act will give the Government important new tools to deliver stronger, more effective protection for Canadian consumers and their families."

The new CCPSAwill better protect the health and safety of Canadians by:

• prohibiting the manufacture, importation, advertisement or sale of any consumer products that pose an unreasonable danger to human health or safety;
• requiring industry to report when they know about a serious incident, or death, related to their product to provide government with timely information about important product safety issues;
• requiring manufacturers or importers to provide test/study results on products when asked;
• allowing Health Canada to recall dangerous consumer products; and
• raising fines and penalties for non-compliance.

An accelerated implementation plan is being developed in order to facilitate the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act coming into force in the next few months.  To make the transition from the Hazardous Products Act to the new legislation as smooth as possible, the Government will be actively communicating with industry to inform them of the coming-into-force date and their new obligations and requirements under the Act.  The Government is also committed to keeping consumers informed as to how the legislation will affect them and the products they buy.

Over the past year, the Harper Government has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to consumer product safety through new regulations on lead, cribs and cradles, and surface coating materials.  With the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Government will continue to provide a high level of protection for Canadians and will be able to do even more to address emerging consumer product safety issues. 

For more information:

• Please consult the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act website: www.health.gc.ca/ccpsa
• Follow Health Canada on Twitter for updates.
• 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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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Jenny Van Alstyne
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709