Updated Safety Rules for Carriages and Strollers

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice describes a proposed replacement of the Carriages and Strollers Regulations by Health Canada. The change would update safety, chemical and labelling rules for baby carriages and strollers and give industry time to switch to new international standards while keeping bilingual warnings.

What it does#

• Replaces the old rules (many unchanged since 1985) with modern requirements that reflect current stroller designs.
• Lets manufacturers meet either ASTM F833 or ISO 31110 mechanical standards (incorporated by reference).
  • If a new version of those standards is published, manufacturers and importers would have 180 days to make products meeting the new or previous version, and sellers would have 365 days to advertise or sell products that meet either version.
• Adds or updates tests and performance checks for common hazards, including:
  • wheel attachment and wheel fork retention,
  • latches and buckle strength,
  • entrapment and head/neck risks,
  • straps and cords that could cause strangulation,
  • stability and impact performance,
  • small parts and sharp edges.
• Brings surface-coating, toxicological, and phthalate rules into line with other Canadian standards by including requirements consistent with the Surface Coating Materials Regulations, the Toys Regulations, and the Phthalates Regulations.
  • Limits on certain phthalates: DEHP/DBP/BBP not more than 1000 mg/kg in vinyl parts; DINP/DIDP/DNOP limits where parts can be mouthed by children under four.
• Requires safety information and warnings in both English and French, and sets legibility and format rules.
• Includes a transitional rule letting products that comply with the old Regulations continue to be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold for 180 days after the new Regulations come into force.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers, brand owners and designers of carriages and strollers.
• Importers, distributors and retailers who sell these products in Canada.
• Parents and caregivers who use carriages and strollers.
• Testing labs and product safety consultants.
• Health Canada (for enforcement and guidance materials).

If you are unsure whether a specific product is covered, the notice is not completely clear on every design type — but it generally covers wheeled vehicles designed to carry children lying down (carriages) or sitting (strollers).

Why it matters#

• Safer products: The changes target real hazards that have appeared with modern designs (wheel detachments, entrapment, strangulation, failing car-seat attachments). That should reduce injuries to young children.
• Chemical exposure: Adding phthalate limits and clearer toxicological/surface-coating rules reduces the risk that young children will be exposed to harmful chemicals in vinyl, paints or removable films.
• Simpler rules for makers: Letting businesses use widely used international standards can cut testing and design costs. Health Canada’s cost–benefit work estimates annualized net benefits of about $1.1 million over 2023 to 2033. One-time government test-equipment costs were estimated at $150,000 and industry testing costs for phthalates were estimated at about $1,000 per year for the sample companies.
• Time to adapt: The proposal builds in transition periods (180 days and 365 days) so companies can sell through existing stock and adjust production.
• This is a proposed regulatory change. It was published for comment and would come into force only after the formal final-step publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.