Canada issued new regulations on corded window covering products

2009-09-02

On April 15, 2009, the Sanitation Administration of Canada issued new safety regulation on corded window covering products to ensure the safety of these products to children.

 

This regulation takes effect immediately. All the corded window covering products sold, advertised or exported to Canada must accord to the technical specifications in Canada national standard CAN/CSA-Z600 Safety of Corded Window Covering Products. These new regulations are established according to the reference of Hazardous Products Law and Canada national standard CAN/CSA-Z600 Safety of Corded Window Covering Products.

 

The CAN/CSA-Z600 standard clarifies that if the product has flexible ring cord, this cord must be difficult to be reached and a device that can unfasten the ring with slight force, or fix the ring on adjacent surface to tension the cord, must be equipped. 

In addition, this standard also clarifies the requirements on labels and instructions. The products must have descriptive warning labels and attached with free telephone number of Consumables Safety Act of Sanitation Administration of Canada. The instructions of the products must also have safety information and provide the free telephone number and website of Sanitation Administration of Canada. At the same time, the labels and advertisement of corded window covering products shouldn’t mention this law or these regulations directly or indirectly.

 

In addition, it is necessary to put on records to prove these products complying with these regulations. The record period is at least three years since the date of manufacture or import.

Remark: At present, the window covering products installed in many houses do not accord with the new regulation or former recommended standard regulations, but they are not restricted by the new regulation. The parents and nurses must keep the cords and bead chain of the window shade and curtain away from children, tense the cords or cut the cords, because these cords may strangle the children.

Data: Since 1986, Canada has reported 27 strangled deaths by corded window products and 22 almost deaths, which may happen to children from 10 months to four years old.