Buying second-hand products
Find out how you can protect yourself and your family when buying second-hand products in-person and online. Learn how to pick safer used products. Discover what you need to do as a buyer, seller or person giving away used products.
On this page
- Put safety first
- Banned products in Canada
- Recalled products
- Sellers and buyers' responsibilities
- Commonly available second-hand products
- Health Canada's role
Put safety first
Be careful when buying or receiving anything second-hand. You might get used products from:
- garage sales
- friends or family
- flea and farmer's markets
- second-hand/consignment stores
Be even more careful when buying or being given used products online. When you can't examine the physical product, it's harder to tell if there's a safety issue with it. Second-hand items can be found on the internet at:
- auction sites
- online retailers
- online marketplaces
- online second-hand/consignment sites
- buy-nothing websites or groups on social media allowing members to give away used products to other members in their community
Keep in mind that safety regulations change over time. Older products, even if they are in good working order, may not meet current safety regulations, and may be:
- recalled
- banned
- damaged
- designed in a way that is no longer safe
- missing important labels and instructions
- single-impact products, like helmets and car seats, that have been involved in an accident
Banned products in Canada
The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and its regulations ban the sale of some dangerous products, including:
- yo-yo balls
- baby walkers
- relight candles
- balloon blowing kits
- traditional drop-side cribs
- infant self-feeding devices
- inclined infant sleep products
- lawn darts with elongated tips
- jequirity beans and products made with jequirity beans
- polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA)
It is illegal to sell or give away these products. Find more information about bringing consumer products into Canada, and a partial list of prohibited products.
Recalled products
Recalled products can often be found for sale second-hand. To keep up-to-date on product recalls, check the recalls and safety alerts database. This database also includes product advisories released by Health Canada. Advisories are released to warn of a safety concern with a particular product or group of products. You can also subscribe to receive consumer product safety updates via email.
Before buying children's products second-hand, check Buyer beware – list of potentially dangerous children's products.
Sellers' and buyers' responsibilities
When you sell a used product, it's your responsibility to make sure it's safe, even if it's being given away for free.
Before selling or giving away a used product, make sure it:
- isn't recalled or banned
- isn't missing any essential parts
- hasn't been involved in an accident (for helmets, car seats and booster seats)
- hasn't been damaged (for example handheld electrical products, such as cell phones, tablets, e-readers and portable gaming consoles, that have been dropped)
- meets the current Canadian safety requirements
- if you're unsure if it meets current safety requirements, check with the manufacturer
Refer to the Guide to second-hand products (including children's products) and Facts for garage sale vendors for more information.
Many products are designed for single-impact use, meaning they provide protection for only one accident or impact, and might not offer the same level of protection in subsequent accidents. Examples of such products include bike and ski helmets and baby car seats.
Before buying or receiving a used product, make sure:
- it isn't recalled or banned
- if it's been repaired or refurbished, the work was completed by an authorized dealer
- it's compliant with current safety requirements. If unsure, check with the seller or the product's manufacturer directly. Find more information for shoppers of second-hand products.
- it has the appropriate product labels. By law, some products such as car seats need a label that clearly states the manufacturer, model number, and the manufacturing date. Electrical products that plug into outlets require a certification mark, such as CSA, cUL, or cETL. If shopping online, you may be able to find this information on the online image or under the product description.
- to ask questions. Every used product has a history. Here are some questions to ask:
- has it been repaired?
- how old is the product?
- how much use has it had?
- has it been in an accident?
- are there any missing parts or accessories that should be included?
- if being sold online, are there clear and detailed photos of the item available? Find more information on how to keep safety in mind when shopping online.
Avoid buying used or old cosmetics as they come with a lot of uncertainty. These cosmetics may contain harmful bacteria that could cause skin rashes or lead to infections. Also, second-hand cosmetics may be missing required labelling information, such as ingredients, warnings, and directions for safe use.
Commonly available second-hand products
Some second-hand products may seem harmless, but they can be potentially dangerous. Be extra cautious about buying the following items:
Children-specific
- playpens
- car seats
- bunk beds
- children's jewellery
- children's sleepwear
- strollers and carriages
- cribs, cradles and bassinets
- other children's products
General use
Health Canada's role
- In Canada:
- consumer products must meet the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and its regulations
- cosmetics must meet the Food and Drugs Act and the Cosmetic Regulations
These laws include health and safety requirements for products sold in, manufactured in or imported into Canada. Requirements under other legislation must also be met, if applicable. Learn more: Consumer product safety acts and regulations and Regulatory information for cosmetics
- These safety requirements do not distinguish between new and used products. Any person who sells, distributes or gives away consumer products not complying with the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act or cosmetics under the Food and Drugs Act is breaking the law in Canada.
- Health Canada is interested in receiving reports of health or safety-related consumer incidents. If you would like more information or if you think you have a consumer product that could be dangerous, contact Consumer Product Safety, Health Canada at 1-866-662-0666 or cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca. You can also report an incident online at canada.ca/report-a-product.