MP Rob Moore welcomes new legislation to enhance consumer safety

April 8, 2008 -- Ottawa, Ontario -- MP Rob Moore today welcomed new legislation to better protect the health and well-being of Canadians. The government introduced the new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act as well as amendments to the Food and Drugs Act.

“These new legislative measures will increase fines for those who put consumers at risk from the current maximum of $5,000 to a new maximum of up to $5 million,” said Mr. Moore. “This represents an extraordinarily tough and thorough approach to consumer safety.”

The changes include a crack down on negligent manufacturers, importers and retailers who knowingly endanger their customers. Public access to information about product safety would also be improved, giving Canadians more control over their own health protection. In addition, the government will devote new resources to enhance surveillance of products already on the market and introduce a requirement to report incidents causing illness or injury within 7 days.

“Our aim is to prevent problems in the first place, target the highest risks and respond rapidly when problems do occur,” said Mr. Moore. “The government’s ability to respond rapidly to problems will be greatly improved as this legislation introduces the power to recall consumer products, much in the same way the government can now recall food products.”

Highlights of the legislation include:
  • A general prohibition against the manufacture, importation, advertisement or sale of consumer products that are a danger to human health or safety;
  • A requirement of mandatory reporting by suppliers of serious product-related incidents – including near-misses and defects, allowing for more targeted oversight;
  • Dramatically increased fines for violations; and
  • A new power for the federal government to order recalls of unsafe consumer products.


Rob Moore is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and the MP for Fundy Royal.

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For more information, please contact:
Sean Phelan
Special Assistant – Communications
Office of Rob Moore, M.P. Fundy Royal
(613) 996-2316