SGS: Health Canada proposed to revise Playpens Regulations

SGS: Health Canada proposed to revise Playpens Regulations

GENEVA, 16-Jun-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — The new regulations would strengthen requirements for playpens to protect infants and young children from potential injury or death.

On April 22, 2017, Health Canada proposed to revise Playpens Regulations [1] under Vol. 151, No. 16.

The Regulations came into force on September 1, 1976 and have evolved since their last major amendment to the Playpens Regulations in 1991. Playpens are intended to provide a safe playing environment for infants and young children. However, Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Directorate (CPSD) has received reports of incidents, including injuries, deaths, and safety concerns, related to the use of playpens and playpen accessories from consumers, physicians and medical officers with certain playpen designs.

The proposed revision, if approved, is intended to further improve the safety of these products and includes a number of major modifications to address identified hazards. These are:

• Additional performance requirements and test methods to address unintentional folding or collapse of the playpen’s top rails
• Introduction of performance requirements and test methods for playpen accessories, including accessories intended for unsupervised infant sleep
• Aligning the majority of the Canadian requirements with US requirements
• Aligning with the current Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations (CCBR), SOR/2016-152
• The proposed changes are to further safeguard against injuries and deaths
• The proposal repeals and replaces the current Regulations (C.R.C., c. 932)

Health Canada has also received requests from playpen manufacturers for greater alignment with US requirements to incorporate, by reference, the ASTM F406 play yard standard and the ASTM F2194 bassinets and cradles standard [2].

SGS has dedicated experts and services to assist you in the development of juvenile products and childcare articles. SGS offers physical/mechanical tests, chemical tests, packaging evaluation, inspections to ensure the compliance of your products in target markets. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or visit our website.

For enquiries, please contact:

Ali Karimi
Director, Technical Services- Hardlines
t: + 01 973-461-7928

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SOURCE: SGS SA