Health Canada proposes amendments to Canadian Playpen Regulations

Health Canada released a public consultation proposal to amend the Playpens Regulations under the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act on April 16, 2013.  Comments may be submitted until June 29, 2013.

Health Canada seeks to enhance and align the current Regulation with existing requirements under the Canadian Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations and with certain requirements with international standards and U.S. requirements for play yards, playpens and bassinets/cradles.  The proposed changes include;

• Clarification of the definition “playpen” to eliminate existing confusion between playpens and portable cribs.
• Revising technical requirements for the gap between the floor pad and the side of the playpen, the side height of playpens and the side height requirements for sleep accessories
• Amending the test method for assessing mesh opening sizes to align with international play yard standards
• Establishing performance requirements relating to playpen’s latching and locking mechanisms
• Prohibiting any protrusion attachment or mechanism capable of entangling the occupant’s clothing or other object worn by the occupant to be located above the upper surface of the floor of the playpen
• Including a maximum rock or swing angle for sleep accessories that rock or swing and requiring that such sleep accessories incorporate a means of self-leveling
• Introducing performance requirements and test methods to assess sleep accessories missing key structural elements intended to avoid their improper assembly
• Providing for a transitional period of six (6) months for the implementation of the new requirements to allow industry time to re-design, test and supply new product models meeting the amended regulatory requirements