News Release
2011-103
July 25, 2011
For immediate release
Backgrounder: Cadmium in Children's Jewellery Products
Risk Assessment Report: Draft Proposal for Cadmium Limits in Children's Jewellery
OTTAWA - The Harper Government is taking action to protect children from dangerous products by proposing a new guideline regarding the amount of cadmium that may be found in children's jewellery.
"With the new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act now in place, the law is clear," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "Consumer products that pose a danger to human health or safety may not be manufactured, distributed, imported or sold in Canada. This proposed guideline makes our expectations of industry clear."
Cadmium is a heavy metal which is known to be highly toxic when ingested. Health Canada is proposing a guideline regarding total cadmium concentration in children's jewellery of 130 parts per million (0.013%). It is believed this concentration would help protect children from cadmium poisoning following accidental ingestion, or prolonged licking and sucking, of these products. Stakeholders affected by this proposed guideline have until October 10, 2011 to provide comments on the proposal.
"Parents want the products they buy for their children to be safe", said Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director at Safe Kids Canada. "Young children explore their world through touch and taste, so guidelines like this ensure products children use often will be safer."
"With the new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, we have the tools to better identify and track emerging problems with consumer products," said Royal Galipeau, MP for Ottawa-Orleans. "Our government has, and will continue, to play a critical role in helping to protect the health and safety of the people we serve."
Health Canada encourages those involved in the import, manufacture or sale of children's jewellery to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their products are safe for Canadian children. Health Canada will continue to monitor the marketplace and will take appropriate action when levels of cadmium in excess of the guideline are found in children's jewellery. Health Canada may also seek the introduction of regulations limiting cadmium in children's jewellery via the federal regulatory process.
Last October, as a first step, the Government appealed to members of industry to voluntarily stop the production, importation and sale of children's jewellery made with cadmium or cadmium-containing materials. While there is no known risk to health from simply wearing jewellery made with high levels of cadmium, a Health Canada risk assessment found that there are serious health risks associated with swallowing, sucking or chewing jewellery that contains high levels of cadmium.
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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
