SG 167/24
On November 20, 2024, Health Canada published a new Tents Regulations (SOR/2024-217) in the Canada Gazette, Part II, which also included consequential amendments to both the Toys Regulations and Textile Flammability Regulations.
The new Tent Regulations incorporates by ambulatory reference CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020 (Flammability and Labelling Requirements for Tents), which addresses the flammability hazards of the types of tent materials now sold in the market, reducing the need for manufacturers to use flame retardant chemicals to their products to ensure compliance. The new regulations define “tent” as a structure the meets the following conditions:
- Portable
- Intended to shelter persons from outdoor environmental elements such as precipitation, sun, wind or insects
- Made, in whole or in part, of fabric or other pliable material
- Has a top
- Has at least one side that constrains egress
- Not subject to the National Building Code of Canada 2020, published by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, National Research Council of Canada
The Toys Regulations have been updated to add flammability and fire-safety labelling requirements for toys intended to be entered by a child, which is defined as, “a toy that is constructed, in whole or in part, from fabric or other pliable material and that is intended to fully or almost fully enclose a child”. The definition aligns with ISO 8124-2 (Safety of toys - Part 2: Flammability) which will include toys such as play tunnels, teepees and bed tents that share similar characteristics to a play tent and provide partial to full enclosure. This does not include tents as defined in the Tents Regulation.
The Textile Flammability Regulations have also been updated to amend non-application section 2(b) to: “dolls, plush toys, soft toys and toys intended to be entered by a child.”
The new Tents Regulations and amended Toys Regulations came into force on November 20, 2024. However, the regulations include a transitional period of two years following the date on which they come into force to allow industry to deplete existing stock that complies with the previous regulations.
Tents Regulations: link
CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020, Flammability and Labelling Requirements for Tents: link
SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. 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.
