SGS Announces Health Canada Acts to Ban Small, Powerful Magnet Sets

FAIRFIELD, N.J. - Feb. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- The notice was a follow on to an informational notice issued in April 2013 (1) for Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors and Retailers of products containing one or more small, powerful magnets, includingnovelty magnet sets marketed to adults and children.

Preventing Dangers of Magnet Sets

Health Canada has determined that small, powerful magnets can endanger the health and safety of consumers.  Such magnets can be easily swallowed and attract one another across intestinal walls while moving through the digestive system  resulting in blockages and intestinal wall tearing, the consequences of which can be extremely serious and life threatening.  Health Canada is aware of two fatalities of children who swallowed small, powerful magnets.

Small Magnet – Definition

A “small” magnet or magnetic component is defined as one which fits completely within a small parts cylinder per the toy safety regulation and “powerful” as a magnet with a flux index of 50 kG²mm² or more, when assessed in accordance with the test method described in sections 8.24.1 to 8.24.3 of the U.S. ASTM F963-11 toy safety standard.

Certain exemptions apply where a magnet or magnetic component is necessary for the intended function of a toy including such things as electric motors, relays or speakers.  When a component requires this type of magnetic property which is not part of the intended play mode, this factor will be considered when the overall safety of the toy is assessed by Health Canada.

Health Canada Act to Ensure Consumer Safety

Health Canada emphasizes that it is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and retailers to ensure that the products they market in Canada are safe for consumers.

The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-1.68/index.html) (CCPSA) addresses dangers to human health or safety that may result from consumer products in Canada and prohibits the manufacturing, importing, advertising or selling of consumer products which are a “danger to human health or safety”.  Questions about the content of the Health Canada notice or the subject of magnets can be addressed to SGS or directly to CCPSA-LCSPC@hc-sc.gc.ca (email: CCPSA-LCSPC@hc-sc.gc.ca).

References:

(1) Health Canada Survey (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/info-ind/m...)

About SGS Services for Toys and Juvenile Products

SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Throughout the SGS global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juve...), analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of toys and consumer products.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Fred Mills-Winkler
Technical Director, Toys
SGS – North America
291 Fairfield Avenue,
Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA

t: +1 973 575 5252 ext. 22038
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products.aspx

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.