Industry and Environmental Groups Welcome Return of Consumer Safety
Legislation

Canadians get another chance for improved consumer product safety

TORONTO and OTTAWA, June 9 /CNW/ - The Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association and Environmental Defence welcome today's reintroduction of the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act into the House of Commons. The proposed Act is an update to the 40-year old outdated Hazardous Products Act.

"This is great news for anyone who cares about product safety and protecting the health and welfare of Canadians," said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental Defence. "It's high time Canada caught up with places like the United States and Europe in protecting its citizens."

The European Union and the United States currently have laws that enable their governments to make mandatory product recalls and to order product safety tests, but Canada does not. Here, recalls are only made by companies voluntarily.

"The health and safety of Canadians is the priority for all CCSPA members and we support the swift passage of this legislation," said Shannon Coombs, President of the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association. "Canada needs the tools to be able to rapidly respond to dangerous consumer products in the marketplace and this legislation will allow that to happen."

After passing unanimously in the House of Commons last summer, the proposed Act met opposition in the Senate and changes were made. The changes, which weakened the proposed Act, were never reviewed by the House of Commons because Parliament was prorogued. A commitment to reintroduce the proposed Act was made in the March 3, 2010 Throne Speech, with Canadians' health and safety being identified as priorities.

"We are pleased to see this commitment of reintroduction fulfilled and look forward to working with all parties to see the proposed legislation become law," said Smith.

About Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association (www.ccspa.org): CCSPA is a national trade association that represents 45 member companies across Canada, collectively a $20 billion industry directly employing 12,000 people in over 120 facilities. Our companies manufacture, process, package and distribute consumer, industrial and institutional specialty products such as soaps and detergents, pest control products, aerosols, hard surface disinfectants, deodorizers and automotive chemicals.

About Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to Canada's contribution to climate change.

For further information: or to arrange interviews, please contact: Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, [phone] ext. 232, [phone] (cell); Shannon Coombs, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association, [phone], ext. 18, [phone] (cell)