Health Canada has issued a notice pertaining to the new Corded Window Coverings Regulations (CWCR) which will come into effect May 1, 2021.
Health Canada would like to inform of its planned approach to enforcing the upcoming new requirements for corded window coverings set out in the Corded Window Coverings Regulations (CWCR) under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA).
Requirements under the CWCR serve an important purpose to help eliminate the strangulation hazard associated with corded window coverings and help protect the health and safety of children. More specifically, the CWCR seek to address the root cause of the pathway to injury or death by strangulation by restricting the length of reachable cords and the size of loops that can be created by a cord.
The CWCR comes into force on May 1, 2021. Health Canada expects industry to continue to make best efforts to comply with these upcoming Regulations despite the circumstances and is not delaying the coming-into-force date.
Health Canada plans to take the following approach to compliance and enforcement regarding the new CWCR requirements:
- From May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022, Health Canada intends to prioritize promoting awareness of and compliance with the CWCR. We will also be monitoring progress towards compliance; and
- Beginning on May 1, 2022, Health Canada intends to increase its compliance monitoring activities and take appropriate enforcement action, where necessary, to address identified instances of non-compliance to the CWCR.
The Department’s planned approach was decided after considering a number of factors, including input from stakeholder consultations.
Notwithstanding the above, the Department will enforce the CWCR anytime on or after May 1, 2021, if warranted, based on incidents, complaints, or the level of risk. However, Health Canada’s proactive activities will be focused on compliance promotion looking toward May 1, 2022.
Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada / Government of Canada
Email: hc.ccpsa-lcspc.sc@canada.ca