On December 1st, 2010, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced the new Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations.
In order to improve the protection of the health and safety of young children using cribs, cradles and bassinets, the former Cribs and Cradles Regulations of the Hazardous Products Act (HPA), as well as Item 25 of Part II of Schedule I of the HPA have been amended. The new Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations include a number of modifications, such as;
- incorporating requirements for bassinets,
- eliminating toeholds from cribs,
- establishing the same requirements for portable and standard cribs,
- establishing a minimum side height barrier for cribs, cradles and bassinets,
- adding warning requirements for cribs and cradles,
- amending the referenced flammability standard,
- including a record keeping requirement,
- aligning the total lead limit for cribs, cradles and bassinets with that of the United States (U.S.),
- clarifying the definitions, and;
- aligning aspects of the Canadian corner post requirements with those of the U.S.
Canada's requirements for cribs and cradles are already among the most stringent in the world. The amended Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations further strengthen the safety requirements for cribs and cradles, and introduce new requirements for stand-alone bassinets, which were previously unregulated in Canada.
