Government of Canada Delivers on Commitment for Tougher Consumer Product Safety

News Release
2010-97
June 9, 2010
For immediate release

Backgrounder: Key Elements of the Proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act

OTTAWA - Today, the Government of Canada introduced a tough new Bill to beef up Canada's out-of-date product safety laws and deliver stronger, more effective protection for Canadian consumers and their families. The proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) was introduced this afternoon in the House of Commons by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.

"The Government has listened to the concerns of consumers and parents alike. They need to be confident that the products they buy will be safe for them and their children," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This Government has proposed a solution that has the strong support of major Canadian children's organizations, consumer advocacy groups and other key stakeholders who share the conviction that Canadians need better protection from unsafe consumer products."

The new proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act would improve consumer product safety with action that includes:

• Prohibiting the manufacturing, importing, marketing or selling of any consumer products deemed or proven unsafe to human health or safety;
• Requiring industry to quickly inform the government when they discover one of their products is linked to a serious incident, death, or product safety issue;
• Requiring manufacturers or importers to provide test/study results on products when asked;
• Empowering Health Canada to recall unreasonably dangerous consumer products; and
• Making it an offence to package or label consumer products that make false or deceptive health or safety claims.

The proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act builds on Bill C-6, which the Government previously introduced, and takes into account concerns raised by some stakeholders and parliamentarians through specific amendments. These amendments serve to clarify the intent of the Bill. They do not compromise the spirit of the Bill or jeopardize the level of protection it provides to Canadians.

For more information:

• To find out how parents and business owners are supportive of this proposed Act and for more information, please consult the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act website and video: www.health.gc.ca/ccpsa
• Follow  Health Canada on Twitter for updates.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Josée Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

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