ALERT: All seasonal lights manufactured by Taizhou Hongpeng Colour Lanterns sold across Canada may pose serious safety risk

OTTAWA, Nov. 28, 2015 /CNW/ -

Affected product(s):

All seasonal lights, under various brand names, manufactured by Taizhou Hongpeng Colour Lanterns (CSA File Number 241989), also known as Ningbo EGO International Co. Ltd. (CSA File Number 263917), sold in various stores across Canada.

Product description:

Indoor and outdoor decorative light strings that plug-in manufactured by Taizhou Hongpeng Colour Lanterns or Ningbo EGO International Co. Ltd. that have been widely distributed throughout Canada in numerous retail chains under a wide variety of brand names. Seasonal lights include Halloween and Christmas lights.

Hazard identified:

Health Canada initiated a national sampling and evaluation project to test seasonal lights due to a number of incident reports received by the department. Testing by Health Canada has shown hazards in several products including overheating, as well as the risk of fire and electric shock.

Number sold:

The number of products affected is unknown. Health Canada is in the process of obtaining this information from distributors and retailers. Some of these products have already been recalled. These can be found on our Consumer Product Update on seasonal lights. As additional affected brands and retailers are identified, they will be added to the Update.

Time period sold:

The time period sold is unknown.

Place of origin:

Manufactured in China.

Companies:

Manufacturers
Taizhou Hongpeng Colour Lanterns Co., Ltd.
Hengjie Industrial Park,
Luqiao Taizhou
Zhejiang
318056
China

Ningbo EGO International Co., Ltd
3/F, No.168 East Road Songjiang,
Yinzhou Area, Ningbo
Zhejiang
315100
China

What you should do:

Consumers should check all seasonal lights and their Manufacturer's Product Identification label for the CSA file numbers 241989 and 263917. The Manufacturer's Product Identification label is typically attached to one end of a string of lights. If your lights have either of these numbers you should stop using these products immediately. Affected products cannot be identified solely by product or brand names.

Consumers are encouraged to return these specific products to the place where they were purchased. If there is a recall notice for your specific product, you should follow the directions in the notice.

Consumers are encouraged to check the Recall and Safety Alerts Database on the Healthy Canadians website on a regular basis or subscribe to receive health and safety alerts from the Department via email, RSS feed or Twitter.

What Health Canada is doing:

Samples tested by both Health Canada and the CSA Group confirm that these decorative lighting products do not comply with Canadian standards posing a potential danger to the health and safety of Canadians. Applying the CSA certification mark to a product that is not compliant with the standard is a misuse of the CSA Certification Mark. The department is seeking further information about products from the responsible companies as required and has requested recalls for the affected products.

Since November 12, 2015, Health Canada has continued to advise consumers of possible defects with some seasonal lights. We will continue to communicate future recalls. For more information visit the Consumer Product Update on seasonal lights.

In Canada, industry is responsible for ensuring the safety of the products they sell. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits the manufacture, importation, advertisement or sale of a consumer product that poses a danger to human health or safety.

Health Canada continues to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to help protect Canadians from potentially dangerous consumer products. Health Canada regularly tests consumer products on the Canadian market and will continue to monitor products to help keep consumers safe.

Report health or safety concerns:

Canadians are encouraged to report any health or safety incidents related to the use of any consumer product or cosmetic by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

Related Links:

Seasonal Lights Consumer Product Update 
Recall and Safety Alerts Database 
CSA Group

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SOURCE Health Canada

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/11/28/20151128_C8837_PDF_EN_554399.pdf

Media Enquiries: Health Canada, [phone]; Public Enquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709; CSA Group: www.csagroup.org, [phone]