Now is the time for garage sales. There is nothing better than finding a bargain, but when is a bargain a problem in disguise.
Health Canada released this warning about the responsibilities of selling older, unapproved products, even if you sold it from your own driveway.
Everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products sold, whether new or used, are safe and meet current safety standards. It is important to only sell items that are in good condition. Damaged articles should be discarded.
Before selling a product at a garage sale, check with the manufacturer to see if it has been recalled and if the problem has been corrected. If it has been recalled and the problem has not been corrected, do not sell the product. Destroy it and throw it away.
The Hazardous Products Act is administered by Health Canada. It has safety requirements for certain consumer products, many of which are intended for use by children. Under the law you cannot import, sell, give away or distribute products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act.
The following is a partial list of products that must meet safety requirements under the Hazardous Products Act:
BABY GATES – Baby gates that have large diamond-shaped or large "V" openings at the top are not allowed to be sold in Canada. A child's head can get caught in these openings and the child could strangle. To meet the regulations, baby gates must come with information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture.
BABY WALKERS BANNED – Baby walkers have been illegal to sell since April 2004. Anyone with a baby walker is advised to destroy it..
CAR SEATS must meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Before selling a used car seat, check with Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0371.
CHILDREN'S JEWELLERY – Lead is a soft, heavy, bluish-grey metal which is often used to make inexpensive jewellery. Lead is very toxic.. Jewellery containing lead which has a protective or decorative coating is not safe, since children can easily chew off the coating. If you are not sure if a children's jewellery product contains lead, it is wiser not to offer it for sale.
CHILDREN'S SLEEPWEAR – Loose-fitting sleepwear (including nightgowns, bathrobes, and loose pyjamas) burn more easily if made of cotton or cotton blends. To meet the flammability requirements, loose-fitting children's sleepwear should be made of polyester, nylon or polyester/ nylon blends. Cotton or cotton-blends may only be used for tight-fitting styles such as sleepers or polo pyjamas.
CRIBS – To meet the regulations, cribs must come with information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, date of manufacture and assembly instructions. Cribs made before September 1986 do not meet current safety standards and are not allowed to be sold under the law. It is also important that the mattress used in the crib fits snugly, with a gap of no more than 3 cm between the mattress and the crib. The spacing between the bars should be no more than 6 cm. Corner posts should be no more than 3 mm high. The mattress support must be firmly fixed to the end panels. Cribs that have a floating mattress support system with S or Z-shaped hooks are not safe. Cribs with visible signs of damage, missing parts, or missing warning information should be destroyed.
HOCKEY HELMETS AND FACE PROTECTORS sold in Canada must meet safety standards set by the Canadian Standards Association International (CSA). If the CSA sticker is not present throw the product away. .
LAWN DARTS BANNED – It is illegal to sell lawn darts with elongated tips in Canada.
PLAYPENS – Do not sell playpens that have protruding bolts, worn or faulty mechanisms, or torn vinyl or mesh. Playpen mesh must be small mosquito-type netting. When selling a folding playpen, ensure that all locking mechanisms work and set-up instructions are included..
STROLLERS – Carriages and strollers made before 1985 may not meet current safety standards and must not be sold. Strollers must come with a lap belt, or safety harness that is solidly attached to the seat or frame. Ensure the brakes, as well as locking mechanisms on folding models, are in working order.
BICYCLE AND ROLLERBLADING HELMETS are designed to protect the head against a single impact. It is not recommended to resell these products.
DRAWSTRINGS ON CHILDREN'S CLOTHING especially on snowsuits, jackets and sweatshirts, can become caught on playground equipment, fences or other objects. Drawstrings on children's clothing should be removed prior to sale.
WINDOW BLINDS – The cords and bead chains from blinds and curtains present two main strangulation hazards to children: pull-cords, inner cords, and bead chains forming a loop in which a child can get caught; and long cords being wrapped around a child's neck. Products with looped pull-cords, and those without inner cord stop devices and important safety labelling, should not be sold. Inner cord stops are small, plastic rings knotted to the top of the pull-cords, to stop the inner cords from being pulled through the slats. It is very important to keep blind and curtain pull-cords out of the reach of children, regardless of whether blinds are new or old.
INFANT BATH SEATS AND BATH RINGS – It is not recommended to resell these products because the suction cups or other means to attach them to a tub can be ineffective. Additionally, many people mistakenly believe that these products are safety devices and caregivers may think that the product will keep an unsupervised baby safe in the tub.
At this time of year, Health Canada reminds Canadians that along with the warmer weather comes garage sale season. This is not only a great time for bargains, but also a time to exercise caution both as a buyer and as a seller. Caution is required to protect the safety of consumers who may use second-hand products. In Canada, the safety laws that apply to the sale of new products also apply to the sale of used items. Under these laws, it is illegal to import, sell, or even give away products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act (HPA).
Vendors are responsible for ensuring that all items sold or distributed at garage sales, flea markets, and second-hand stores fulfill the applicable requirements of the Hazardous Products Act and the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA). The REDA covers such items as microwave ovens, UV facial lamps and personal tanning equipment. Resold items must also meet current standards.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Consumer Product Safety,
Health Canada
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