Facts For Garage Sale Vendors

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Every year, garage sales are held in towns and cities across Canada. People often shop for bargains at these sales; however, these bargains could be dangerous. Everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products sold, whether new or used, are safe and meet safety standards. It is important to only sell items that are in good condition. Damaged articles should be discarded.

The Hazardous Products Act is administered by Health Canada. It has safety requirements for certain consumer products, many of which are intended for use by children. Under the law you cannot import, sell or distribute products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act.

The next time you are planning to hold a garage sale, Think Safety.

The following is a partial list of products that must meet safety requirements under the Hazardous Products Act :

Baby Gates - Baby gates that have large diamond-shaped () or large "V" openings at the top are not allowed to be sold in Canada. A child's head can get caught in these openings and the child could strangle.

Baby Walkers - Baby walkers are illegal to sell as of April 2004. Anyone with a baby walker is advised to destroy it so that it cannot be used and to discard it.

Car Seats - Car seats must meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard and carry the compliance label stating the height and weight of the child for which the seat is designed. Detailed instructions, all straps and parts, (including the tether strap for forward-facing seats), must be present. Before selling a used car seat, check with Transport Canada (1-800-333-0371 or www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/) to find out if the car seat has been the subject of a recall and follow these recall instructions. Do not sell a seat older than the manufacturer’s recommended date. Seats that are cracked or broken must not be sold. It is important to know the history of any second-hand seat, as it should not be re-used if it has ever been involved in a crash.

Children's Sleepwear - Loose-fitting sleepwear (including nightgowns, bathrobes, baby-doll pyjamas and loose pyjamas) burn more easily if made of cotton or cotton blends. To meet the flammability requirements, loose-fitting children’s sleepwear should be made of polyester, nylon or polyester/nylon blends. Cotton or cotton-blends may only be used for tight-fitting styles such as sleepers or polo pyjamas.

Cribs - To meet the regulations, cribs must be accompanied by information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, date of manufacture and assembly instructions. Cribs made before the fall of 1986 do not meet current safety standards and are prohibited from sale under the law. They must not be sold and should be destroyed! It is also important that the mattress used in the crib fits snugly, with a gap of no more than 3 cm between the mattress and the crib. The spacing between the bars should be no more than 6 cm. Corner posts should be no more than 3 mm high. The mattress support must be firmly fixed to the end panels. Cribs that have a mattress support system with floating S or Z-shaped hooks are not safe. Cribs with visible signs of damage, missing parts, or missing warning information should be destroyed.

Protective Sports Equipment - Hockey helmets and face protectors sold in Canada must meet safety standards set by CSA International. If the CSA sticker is not present discard the product. These items must not be sold if previously subjected to major impact, if older than five years, if showing visible signs of damage, if parts are missing or if subjected to intensive use over two consecutive seasons.

Playpens - Some older playpens may have protruding bolts that can catch on a child’s clothing, or may have worn or faulty mechanisms on the folding
sides of the playpen. If the playpen has been recalled, be sure the problem has been corrected. Playpen mesh must be small mosquito-type netting.
If the mesh has large open holes it will not meet current standards and could be an entanglement hazard. When selling a folding playpen, ensure that all locking mechanisms work and set-up instructions are included.

Strollers -Carriages and strollers made before 1985 may not meet current safety standards. Strollers must come with a lap belt, or some safety restraint that is solidly attached to the seat or frame. Ensure the brakes, as well as locking mechanisms on folding models, are in working order. Make sure that the wheels are solidly attached.

Toys/lawn Darts - If your toys are in poor repair or broken, they are not safe. Toys with sharp edges or points or those with loose eyes or noses are potential hazards. Toys with small parts are not suitable for children under three years of age. It is illegal to sell lawn darts with elongated tips in Canada.

Examples of other children's items that pose a safety hazard:

Bicycle And Rollerblading Helmets - are designed to protect the head against a single impact. Do not sell these products if damaged.

Drawstrings On Children's Clothing - Drawstrings, especially on snowsuits, jackets and sweatshirts, can become caught on playground equipment, fences or other objects. Drawstrings around the neck on children’s clothing should be removed prior to sale.

Jewellery - Lead is a known toxic metal that can enter the body and cause adverse effects on the intellectual and behavioural development of infants and young children. Jewellery designed for children and containing lead should not be sold. If you are unsure whether these products contain lead, it is wiser not to offer them for sale.

For more information contact Health Canada, Product Safety at : cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca
or your Regional Office: