Canada Proposes New Playpen Regulations

Vol. 971 | 25 May 2017

Because playpens are intended to be used for unsupervised sleep for children, they need to provide a safe and secure environment. The Canadian Playpen Regulations first came into effect in September 1976, and underwent significant revision in 1991. Over the last 25 years, there has been significant progress in playpen design and function. The Health Canada proposal to revise the Playpen Regulations, SOR/2016-189, is to address the evolution in design and function of these products, while improving their safety and harmonizing the requirements with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rules for these products, where possible.

Significant sections of the proposed regulation include:

• New definitions added for accessory, fastener, occupant retention area, playpen and structural cover
• Entrapment hazards:
  • Requirement for entrapment in the openings
  • Requirements for entrapment in the accessories
  • Evaluation of the finger entrapment openings and the mesh openings
• Floor pad and sleep surface requirements:
  • Maximum limit for any gaps between the mattress pads and the sides of the product
  • Maximum flatness angle of 7 degrees for the sleep surfaces and the segmented mattress pads
  • Floor pad thickness and vertical displacement requirements
  • Added maximum rock/swing angle
• Strangulation/entanglement requirements:
  • Tests for entanglement on any projections
  • Requirements against strangulation on the corner posts
• Other performance requirements:
  • Stability requirements
  • Requirements for the top rail locking and latching mechanisms
  • Side deflection and strength requirements
  • Requirements against unintentional folding
  • Height of the sides
  • Removal of the limit on number of wheels
  • Side height, mattress thickness and integrity of playpen accessories

Comments on the proposed regulation can be submitted until July 6, 2017.

The Proposed Regulation can be viewed at: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2017/2017-04-22/html/reg2-eng.php

Comments on the proposal can be submitted at: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/consult/consult-eng.html#i1

For questions, please contact Laxmi Ravikumar (laxmi.ravikumar@intertek.com, +1-630-209-9265)