Canadian Regulatory Requirements for Ice Hockey Helmets and Face Protectors

The  Hazardous Products Act (HPA) prohibits the sale, importation and advertising of ice hockey helmets, and face protectors for ice hockey and box lacrosse players when the items do not meet the requirements of, respectively:

• the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard  CAN/CSA-Z262.1-M90 entitled Ice Hockey Helmets, as amended from time to time, and
• CSA standard  CAN 3-Z262.2-M78, Face Protectors for Ice Hockey and Box Lacrosse Players (Items 19 and 20, Schedule I, Part I, HPA).

These standards apply to helmets and face protectors for both goaltenders and players. Section 4 of the HPA states that no person shall advertise, sell or import a prohibited product, and this includes helmets and face protectors, that do not meet the requirements of the above-mentioned standards.

Combination goaltender helmets and face protectors are included in this assessment, in particular, ice hockey goaltender masks sold with large "cat-eye" cages which may not meet the regulatory requirements. There are no exceptions allowing the sale of helmets and face protectors not meeting these mandatory requirements.

Health Canada also recommends that ice hockey face protectors sold in Canada meet the requirements of the CSA-Z262.2-09 standard for face protectors for use in ice hockey.

Please review your product lines to ensure that ice hockey helmets and ice hockey face protectors that you are making available in the Canadian market meet the applicable CSA standards. Health Canada recommends that you advise your distributors, retailers, and other sales channels that non-compliant product from your company will no longer be available to them.

Should you wish more information or to obtain a copy of a letter that explains this information in more detail, please contact:

Mechanical & Electrical Hazards Division
Consumer Product Safety Bureau
Health Canada
123 Slater Street, 4th floor, AL: 3504D
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
E-Mail: M&E@hc-sc.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-866-662-0666
Fax: 613-952-9138