NEWS

Canadian Proposed Amendment: Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations

Current science indicates that even very low levels of lead exposure may result in developmental neurotoxicity in children, therefore, Health Canada proposes to expand the scope of products in compliance with a total lead limit of 90 milligrams per kilogram (90 mg/kg) under the Lead Risk Reduction Strategy for Consumer Products (LRRS) of Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA). Under the proposal, the existing Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations (CPCLCMR) would be repealed and replaced with the Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations (CPCLR) to reflect the increased scope of consumer products covered. The amendment will come into force in the sixth month after the month in which it is published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

The proposed Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations (CPCLR):
1. Requirements
  1.1 A total limit of Lead content of 90 mg/kg on accessible part of the consumer products
Accessible part means any part of a product that may be touched, licked, mouthed or swallowed during the reasonably foreseeable use of the product.
  1.2 The proposal allows the companies to choose any commonly accepted, appropriate test method to verify compliance with the total lead limit in accordance with good laboratory practices under the proposed Regulations.
2. Scope of CPCLR:
The regulation covers:
  2.1. product that is brought into contact with the user’s mouth during normal use, except for
    2.1.1. a kitchen utensil, or
    2.1.2. a product that is subject to the Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations;
  2.2. any clothing or clothing accessory that is intended for use by a child under 14 years of age;
  2.3. a product that is intended for use in learning or play by a child under 14 years of age;
  2.4. a book or similar printed product that is intended for a child under 14 years of age, except if it is
    2.4.1. printed on paper or cardboard, and
    2.4.2. printed and bound in a conventional manner using conventional materials;
  2.5. a product whose primary purpose is to facilitate the relaxation, sleep, hygiene, carrying or transportation of a child under four years of age.
3. Exception
Each accessible part may contain more than 90 mg/kg of lead if
  3.1. lead is necessary to produce an essential characteristic of the part;
  3.2. no alternative part containing less lead is available; and
  3.3. the part, when tested in accordance with good laboratory practices, does not release more than 90 mg/kg of lead.

For more detail, please refer to

http://www.canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2016/2016-12-03/html/reg4-eng.php#footnoteRef.56675