Health Committee on May 28th, 2009

[Geneviève Reed]

In general, consumers are sensible enough to be able to tell the difference between a product-related incident and one related to incorrect use of the product. It is important to note that reported incidents are incidents in which a given consumer product is not used in a prescribed manner.

The notion of communication of incidents is very important. There is a recall system around the world, and a rapid notification of incidents system is in place in Europe, where consumers are informed of incidents and measures taken by the government. It is this information that is the most relevant for consumers because it enables them to make informed choices.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You have only about 15 seconds, Ms. Davidson.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Okay, I'll pass.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I thought you might. I'd just get you started and I'd have to interrupt.

Monsieur Malo.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to continue on Ms. Davidson's question and the answers that were given.

Both consumer protection groups and the industry agree that information must be relayed to consumers. It remains to be determined what information will be communicated and how. It is the industry representatives here today who will answer that broad question, but I would have liked other industry stakeholders to answer it as well.

Ms. Reed seemed to be suggesting that a website be established, somewhat as the Europeans have done. I would like to know whether the industry people are familiar with this way of doing things and what they think of it. They seemed to be telling us that the information communicated should be as relevant as possible and that it should concern only elements that are directly related to people's safety so that the relevant information is not lost in a mass of information.

I would like to hear what Ms. Reed, Ms. Lemire, Ms. Campbell and the others have to say on these questions.

[Geneviève Reed]

As I said, we currently have the Consumer Products Safety Office in Canada, which is doing quite a good job spreading information on recalls. Unfortunately, that organization is not well enough known to Canadian consumers, and its work isn't comprehensive enough. That problem should be corrected, we think, and resources should be made available for that purpose.

In the United States, all recalls of all products, whether it be food, cosmetics, children's seats, automobiles and any other consumer products, are available on a single website. We think that kind of system should be considered.

In addition, the European Union uses a notification system called RAPEX. Under that system, you know what the product is, what country it comes from, what the associated hazard is and what measures the government of the country in question has taken to address it. A photograph of the product is also published. It's excellent. It reassures consumers and gives them greater trust in the system, which is supposed to protect them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Please go ahead. You have some time.

[Arthur Kazianis]

We obviously don't have any objections. I thought we moved from incident reporting into recall information. I think we all agree we need to report serious hazard issues.

When it comes to reporting recalls, we are in favour of public websites and informing the consumers and informing the government and being transparent with everybody as to the product that is being recalled, the reason it is being recalled, and whether you failed any standards or regulations. We are all in favour of that. We do not want to see products that are recalled in the consumer's hands. Whatever Health Canada can do to help us achieve that, we are all for it.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Ms. Reed seemed to say that a recall process had been implemented in the case of Fisher-Price toys.

[Geneviève Reed]

It was indeed for Fisher-Price toys, from Mattel.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

From what you know, is the current recall process deficient? Should it be improved?

With regard to toy sound levels, is the 100-decibel standard, which is applied here, the same around the world? Otherwise, do you change the sound chips in every toy?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I'm sorry, we are running out of time, Monsieur Malo.

Ms. Reed, could you just quickly try to answer as much of this question as you can?

Who have you referred it to, Monsieur Malo?

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Industry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Go ahead. We're over time, but I just want him to answer, because it's way over time.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

I think there's a problem with the translation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay.

[Arthur Kazianis]

I don't represent Fisher Price. Obviously I don't know how their recalls have been conducted and all that. I don't know what their systems are.

I think every responsible company and every responsible manufacturer should be doing the recalls as effectively as they possibly can to give the appropriate information—not only how to remove the product from the market, but how to remove the product from retail, and how to appropriately destroy and dispose of the product so it does not become a hazard in the environment, if the product has been recalled because of toxic substances, for example, excessive amounts of lead. I think it's appropriate and it's the manufacturer's responsibility to give all the information to the consumers.

Based on what I have seen—I'm not 100% familiar with Canadian regulations—when we have done recalls, the same information that goes to the United States and to Europe will come to Canada as well, and at the same time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you so much.

Dr. Carrie, please.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

When we had the other panel here, I asked the audiologists, I believe, if they could provide to the committee any scientific evidence on the noise level.

My question is for Option consommateurs.

You said earlier that, in 2004, you conducted a study on noise levels in toys for children and recommended that a stricter standard than the existing one in Canada be adopted. Can you submit that study report to the committee?

[Geneviève Reed]

Yes, I'll be pleased to send it to the clerk.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

That would be great. Thank you very much.

Arthur, I believe you've had experience with the United States. What has been your experience thus far with the mandatory third party testing that was part of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which was stayed from implementation in January of this year? Do you have any comments on that provision?

[Arthur Kazianis]

The mandatory third party testing is part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Are you asking me if I object to it?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Yes. Could you comment on that part of it?

[Arthur Kazianis]

The basis for it, obviously, is to remove any proprietary testing and put the responsibility on third party testing. In the United States, before 2007 and before the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was in place, you did not have to have any testing done to the product to import it into the country. It is now mandatory that you have testing done by a third party. The industry in general supported that.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much.

You mentioned, too, that many of the manufacturers will manufacture not only for Canada but also for the United States and Europe. To my understanding, a lot of the manufacturing does go on overseas.

I'm curious; since it's coming from the same factory, do you typically harmonize up, to the highest standard? Is that what manufacturers typically do?