Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers may be affected by the new Consumer Product Safety Act which went into effect June 20, 2011. The new law applies to a wide variety of consumer products including marine engines. The act also covers most products including toys, household products and sporting goods, but excludes products like motor vehicles and their integral parts, food, drugs (including natural health products) and animals as these are regulated by other Canadian laws. The key provisions of the Act require:
Reporting of Incidents
The Act requires industry to provide information to Health Canada and to the product's supplier (if applicable) concerning consumer product safety incidents or product defects that result, or could reasonably be expected to result, in death or harmful health effects. This "early warning" provision also applies to inadequate labeling or instructions that could lead to the same results, and to recall orders or other corrective measures initiated in other jurisdictions for human health or safety reasons.
Maintaining Records/Paperwork
In an effort to trace unsafe back to their source, the Act requires those who manufacture, import, advertise, sell or test consumer products for commercial purposes to prepare and maintain certain documents. Normally, these records would already be part of regular business practice. For example, the Act requires that a retailer document the name and address of the product's supplier, and the location and the period during which they sold the product (but not the name of the individual to whom the product was sold). These requirements are more detailed at higher levels of trade.
See the following information for further details:
Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA)