Hazardous Product Matches Regulation Method F20: 2016 a verification year!

Health Canada Enforcement Policy: Matches Regulation C.R.C., ch. 929

On December 14 2015, The Healthy Environment and Consumer Safety branch of Health Canada informed all Manufacturers, Importers, Advertisers and Sellers of matches that the compliance of matches manufactured, imported or sold in Canada will be verified in early 2016.

As you probably know, all matches manufactured, imported or sold in Canada are subjected to the requirements of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and the Hazardous Products (Matches) Regulation (HPMR). The HPMR was last amended on June 20, 2011, therefore all products sold in Canada are expected to be in compliance with the current regulation by now. If requested, the compliance documents [1] are to be provided to Health Canada within 15 days upon request from a Health Canada inspector. Health Canada clearly indicated that testing should be completed in an objective and verifiable manner and that an internally generated certificate with a general statement of compliance would not be an acceptable document.

Should you have any question regarding sampling or testing per Method F-20 according to the requirements of the HPMR, feel free to contact us.

Micom is a third party industrial laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, and ISTA and is also recognized by Health Canada as a test service provider.

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[1] Documents should be in the form of test reports where the matches have been tested against the requirements of the HPMR and the results recorded in a report format as described in the Product Safety Laboratory of Health Canada’s Test Method F-20.

Disclaimer

All of the information and opinions contained in this blog are made with the information, and the understanding that we have reviewed at the time of publishing. However, despite our efforts, we do not offer any guarantee of their accuracy, thoroughness of our investigation or validity. The author of this blog is not liable for any inaccuracies or any losses or damages that may result from the use of the information or data contained herein. This blog has not been reviewed or verified for its accuracy by any peer group associates prior to publication.

Michel Comtois

Michel Comtois is an accomplished founder and CEO of Micom Laboratories Inc., an ISO/IEC 17025 (2017) A2LA-accredited independent laboratory specializing in product and material testing services. Before establishing Micom Laboratories in 1999, Michel, who also holds a Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry, gained extensive experience over a 14-year tenure managing departments spanning physical chemistry, physics, mechanical and material testing in research and contract laboratories. This exposure granted him a profound understanding of the intricacies of development and material testing processes.

In addition to his practical experience, Michel has played influential roles on various voluntary technical committees. He notably, served as the chairperson for CAN/CGSB 44.227 and the Head of the Canadian Delegation for ISO TC 136. He also contributed to the following technical committees: CAN/CGSB 44.229, CAN/CGSB 44.232, ANSI/BIFMA X5.1, ANSI/BIFMA X5.5, ANSI/BIFMA X5.6, ANSI/BIFMA X 5.9 ANSI/BIFMA X5.11, ISTA Certification Council.

Leveraging his unique expertise, he has led Micom Laboratories to become a renowned name in its niche, now operating out of a 16,000-square-foot test facility in Montreal, Canada, and serving a diverse customer base with an array of material and product testing services. Follow Michel on LinkedIn