Bill C-6 is designed to repeal and replace Part I of the Hazardous Products Act,(3) creating a new system to regulate consumer products that pose, or might reasonably be expected to pose, a danger to human health and safety. The bill:
■prohibits the sale, manufacture, import and advertisement of certain listed products and provides for testing and evaluation of consumer products;
■makes it mandatory for manufacturers, importers, and sellers of consumer products to report dangerous incidents associated with these products to the Minister of Health;
■obliges manufacturers, importers and sellers of consumer products to report product or labelling defects that result, or might reasonably be expected to result, in death or serious adverse effects on health, including serious injury, to the Minister of Health;
■requires manufacturers, importers and sellers of consumer products to report recalls of consumer products initiated by governments and government institutions in Canada or elsewhere to the Minister of Health;
■provides for the inspection and seizure of consumer products for the purpose of verifying compliance or non-compliance with the bill's provisions;
■empowers the federal government to institute interim and permanent recalls of products that pose, or might reasonably be expected to pose, a danger to human health or safety; and
■establishes both criminal and administrative penalties for those who violate the CCPSA or orders made under it.
Nope, it has not been passed. The Senate approved it with certain amendments that the Conservatives in the House objected to. Last session nothing much was was done at all, much less passing C-6. It was apparently the least productive session of Parliament in Canadian history. We will have to see what, if anything, gets done this go round. The House reconvenes on Monday.
