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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 191/2

15 December 2010

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 584/2010

Canada : Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations

The Canadian Department of Health (Health Canada) published a notice in the Canada Gazette Part II of 8 December 2010 to introduce the Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations under the Hazardous Products Act (HPA). The Regulations limit the lead content of accessible parts of certain consumer products to 90mg/kg total lead (0.009%). The Gazette notice is available at http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-12-08/html/sor-dors273-eng.html. Relevant information can also be found at the website of Health Canada at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2010/2010_203fs-eng.php.

DETAILS

  1. As part of its Lead Risk Reduction Strategy for Consumer Products (LRRS), Health Canada has introduced the Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations to limit the lead content of accessible parts of certain consumer products to 90mg/kg total lead (0.009%). The products affected are:

  1. products, other than kitchen utensils, that are brought into contact with the user's mouth in the course of normal use; and

  1. products intended for use in play or learning by children under three years of age.

These products are know as Group 1 products under the LRRS, which are given priority because of their typical use pattern involving being brought to the mouth of children. These products include:

  • all toys intended for children under three years of age

  • baby bottle nipples, soothers, baby bibs

  • beverage straws, drinking spouts, and other drinking aids

  • mouthpieces of musical instruments

  • sports mouthpieces

  1. Separately, with the amended Surface Coating Materials Regulations under the HPA coming into effect, the level of total lead allowed in consumer paints and other surface coating materials is significantly lowered from 600mg/kg to 90 mg/kg (0.009%).

  1. Please refer to the Gazette notice and the information in the website of Health Canada for details of the requirements. Traders are strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in Canada in order to comply with the necessary requirements.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

 

(Miss Carmen CHAN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry