Industry Guide to Health Canada's Safety Requirements for Children's Toys and Related Products - Summary

This guidance provides information about the safety requirements that apply under the Toys Regulations to children's toys and related products manufactured, advertised, imported or sold in Canada. Children's toys and related products manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada are subject to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and the Toys Regulations.

There are several regulations under the CCPSA that address specific hazards with children's toys. The main regulation, however, is the Toys Regulations. The Toys Regulations address a wide range of mechanical, flammability, toxicological, electrical, thermal and other hazards associated with children's toys.

Who this guide is for

1. Toy manufacturers and distributors
2. Other regulated parties (industry) who are affected by the regulation

In this guide

• Introduction
• Legislation
• Safety requirements for toys
  • Definition of a toy
  • Mechanical hazards
    • Drop test procedure
    • Push/pull test procedure
    • Certain requirements for toys for children of all ages
      • Suffocation hazards
      • Strangulation hazards
        • Yo-yo type balls
        • Elastics
        • Toys with small components
        • Small parts cylinder
        • Plant seeds - pellets for making noise
        • Rattles
        • Rattle impaction test gauge
        • Pull and push toys
        • Dolls, plush toys and soft toys
        • Use of Flame Retardant Chemicals
        • Children's play tents
        • Other textile products for children
        • Specific toxic substances
        • Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations
        • Surface Coating Materials Regulations
        • Phthalates Regulations
        • Science Education Sets Regulations
        • Furniture and other articles for children
        • Pencils and artists' brushes
        • Jewellery
          • Toy jewellery
          • Children's jewellery
          • Latex balloons
          • Toy storage boxes and bins
            • Lid
            • Ventilation
            • Labelling requirements
            • Packaging and Labelling
            • Asbestos
            • Mercury
            • Toys sold in the province of Quebec

            Details and history

            Published: December 29, 2016

            Updated: August 2021

            For assistance

            For further information visit the resources in Appendix A or contact a Health Canada Consumer Product Safety Office via email (cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca) or telephone at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).