Health Canada
Secondhand product safety
Spring means the advent of yard,
garage and rummage sales. While it can be
fun to search for bragains and treasures, it’s
important to put safety first. Be aware of the
potential risks of buying or using
second-hand items from:
u garage sales
u flea markets
u second-hand stores
u the Internet
u family and friends
In Canada, it is the seller's
responsibility to make sure that their
products are safe. You should still be careful
when buying anything second-hand.
Products sold second-hand, especially at
garage sales, may not meet current
regulatory or safety requirements.
Avoid items that are banned, damaged
or missing labelling or instructions. By law,
some products (such as cribs and car seats)
need a label that clearly states the
manufacturer, model number and date of
manufacture.
Ask questions about the product. Every
product has a history. Here are some
questions you may want to ask before
buying something second-hand:
4 How old is it?
4 How much use has it had?
4 Has it been repaired?
4 Has it been in an accident?
Some second-hand products may seem
harmless but they can be potentially
dangerous. Be extra cautious about buying
the following items:
Stay on top of recalls
If you need to find out if a
product has been recalled, you
can:
4 contact the retailer or
manufacturer
4 check for recent recalls and
safety alerts
Some products are banned
in Canada because they are
dangerous to human health or
safety. They are banned under
the Canada Consumer Product
Safety Act. It is illegal to sell or
give away banned items.
Some of Canada’s banned
products include:
u baby walkers
u infant self-feeding devices
u jequirity beans and products
made with jequirity beans
u lawn darts with elongated
tips
u polycarbonate baby bottles
that contain bisphenol A
(BPA)
If you have bought a
banned product or one that
has been recalled, you should
destroy it and/or dispose of
the item safely.
Click here for more about recalls and banned products
u bunk beds
u car seats
u children’s jewellery
u children’s sleepwear
u cribs, cradles and bassinets
u playpens
u strollers and carriages
u other children’s products
u blind cords
u cosmetics
u sports gear
u magnets
u smoke or carbon monoxide detectors
Buyer and seller responsibilities
As a buyer, you should be informed
about product recalls and safety alerts, and
changes to regulatory or safety
requirements.
If you are lending, giving or selling an
item, it must meet current Canadian
regulatory or safety requirements.
Homemade products must also meet the
same regulatory or safety requirements. Get
more information for shoppers of
second-hand products on the Health
Canada website.
To find out more about health and safety issues for Canadians, visit
healthycanadians.ca
6 The HUB May 2017