SG 114/24
Health Canada adds lithium-ion batteries (including consumer products that contain lithium-ion batteries), infant bath seats and water beads to Table 1 in Health Canada’s approach to the General Prohibitions under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA).
On July 10, 2024, Health Canada updated Table 1 in Health Canada’s approach to the General Prohibitions under the CCPSA by adding the following consumer products, which have been identified as posing a hazard of concern to consumers:
- Lithium-ion batteries (including consumer products that contain lithium-ion batteries)
- Infant bath seats
- Water beads
The listing of a consumer product in Table 1 does not imply that it is prohibited but it does signify that Health Canada is monitoring and collecting information on hazards, since they may pose a danger to human health or safety.
Table 1 includes performance criteria, such as existing voluntary standards, international rules or regulatory requirements, which Health Canada is aware of and that may mitigate the hazard. Health Canada advises regulated parties to take action to mitigate these hazards and provide any information on the hazards or any risk mitigation options to Health Canada.
| Class of Consumer Product | Hazard | Performance Criteria Being Evaluated |
Lithium-ion batteries, and consumer products that contain lithium-ion batteries | Burn, fire, or explosion |
Plus:
|
Infant Bath Seats (products that support an infant in a seated position during bathing, excluding products that retain water for bathing) | Drowning | Health Canada has reviewed the performance criteria in the following voluntary safety standards and determined neither standard can sufficiently mitigate the drowning hazard inherent to infant bath seats:
Health Canada continues to investigate whether there are other measures that can sufficiently mitigate the drowning hazard |
Water Beads (superabsorbent polymer balls, water-absorbing beads) | Ingestion leading to obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, insertion into ear or nose, aspiration | Health Canada is monitoring the development of new performance criteria for this class of products, including developments to the ASTM F963 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. Health Canada is also evaluating other potential requirements, such as prohibiting water beads that fit within a small parts cylinder in their dry state |
Our ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing laboratories and specialized local experts have extensive experience with battery testing and offer a range of services to manufacturers and buyers in the industry. With unrivaled experience we can provide all the required technical verifications, safety settings and factory auditing services. Contact us for more information or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.
© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. This publication or website is a property of SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. All contents including website designs, text, and graphics contained herein are owned by or licensed to SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. The information provided is for technical and general information purposes only and offers no legal advice. The information is no substitute for professional legal advice to ensure compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. All information is provided in good faith “as is”, and SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, and does not warrant that the information will be error-free or meet any particular criteria of performance or quality.
