Notice of danger to human health or safety and risk mitigation for products containing small powerful magnets

Last updated: July 4, 2023

Health Canada's mandate includes helping to protect the public by addressing or preventing dangers to human health or safety posed by consumer products. For that purpose, Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Program (CPSP) administers and enforces the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and its regulations.

Danger to human health or safety

Health Canada has assessed the hazards associated with the use of certain products containing small powerful magnets. These products may pose a magnet ingestion hazard to children.

Based on the danger to human health or safety assessment, Health Canada has determined that the following products pose a danger to human health or safety:

Certain products that contain small powerful magnets that do not conform to the applicable criteria set out in one of the following standards:

  • section 43 of the Toys Regulationsunder the CCPSA;
  • section 4.38 of ASTM F963-17 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety;
  • section 4.23 of 71-1:2014+A1:2018 – Safety of toys. Mechanical and physical properties;
  • section 4.31 of ISO 8124-1:2022 – Safety of toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties; or
  • the equivalent.

Risk mitigation

The risk management strategies adopted in several jurisdictions are:

The magnet-related requirements are aligned across the current editions of these four documents.

While these requirements specifically apply to toys intended for children under 14 years of age, they also address the magnet ingestion hazard presented by small powerful magnets.

These documents set out criteria that address the magnet ingestion hazard, including:

The small parts cylinder is illustrated in each of the referenced documents.

The magnetic flux index is measured according to the method described in each of the referenced documents.

You can find additional details about the scope of products affected and the hazard in the danger to human health or safety assessment.

Responsibilities

Manufacturers, importers, advertisers and retailers are reminded that:

Health Canada may take immediate compliance and enforcement actions in line with the Department's compliance and enforcement policy framework when it has reasonable grounds to believe that a consumer product is a danger to human health or safety. Regulated parties that fail to comply voluntarily may be subject to enforcement actions under the CCPSA, which may include seizure, orders to take corrective measures, orders to recall products, administrative monetary penalties, or criminal prosecution.

Health Canada will continue to monitor the situation and may update this Notice and the associated Danger to Human Health or Safety Assessment as warranted.

Information resources

If you require additional information regarding this Notice, visit the resources below or contact a Health Canada Consumer Product Safety Office via email (hc.ccpsa-lcspc.sc@canada.ca) or telephone at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).

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