Guidance for Suncoast Woodcrafters Guild Members Who are Considering
Making Toys which may be used by Children
2021 Version
The information in this list is an unofficial summary of information found in Toys
Regulations under Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Act. This list cannot be
considered as covering all legislation with respect to toy making and it is not intended to
substitute, supersede or limit the requirements under the legislation. As it is just a
summary, there may be omissions or discrepancies between this summary and the
legislation, in which case the legislation will prevail and, of course, the legislation is always
changing.
Members shall make toys which are safe when used in a reasonably foreseeable way,
recognizing that children will not necessarily interact with a toy in the same manner as an
adult.
- Toys shall not break with reasonably foreseeable use
- Toys shall be smoothly finished with no sharp edges.
- All fasteners used to make toys, such as nails, staples, bolts and screws, shall be securely and properly attached so that they do not expose a child to a hazard
- Toy storage boxes with lids shall be equipped with a soft close mechanism to reduce the possibility of a pinch or impact hazard occurring in the use of the boxes.
- Toys or items with folding mechanisms must have a safety stop or locking device which
prevents unintentional collapse.
- Projectile toys capable of causing puncture wounds, such as arrows and gun darts, shall be avoided.
- Toys shall not emit loud noises that could risk damaging children’s sensitive ears.
- To help eliminate choking, ingestion and inhalation hazards, small parts on toys for children of three (3) years of age or younger shall not be smaller than 1.25 inches (32 millimeters) in diameter.
- Any toy that is or is likely to be used by a child under three (3) years of age shall not have a small separable component that can detach from the toy with reasonably foreseeable use See the "Drop Test Procedure" and the "Push/Pull Test Procedure", sections of the government regulation referred to at the end of this summary.
- Small components are serious choking, ingestion and inhalation hazards for young children. Examples of some types of toys Health Canada has taken action on because of small components include: puzzles with small pieces/pegs, simple cars & trucks with small, separable parts. Ensure that small wheels, axel pins or other small components do not separate from the vehicle if dropped on a concrete floor from 4-1/2 feet (1.37 meters) which is the standard test. Dolls and toys with small attachments (example, eyes, nose, decorations) shall not be capable of being pulled off when exposed to the appropriate regulation test force)
- Rattle type toys shall be avoided. Guidance for Suncoast Woodcrafters Guild Members Who are Considering Making Toys which may be used by Children 2021 Version 2
- Toys which have cords or straps shall be avoided.
- Shaft-like handles on all pull and push toys shall be minimum of 3/8 inches (10 millimeters) in diameter and have a well secured protective tip attached to prevent puncture wounds.
- No plastic film bags, 14 inches (356 millimeters) or larger in circumference, that a child could pull over their head shall be used for toy packaging.
- Stringent flammability requirements are in place for all textile materials used for outer
coverings of dolls and plush toys, including doll clothing and hair.
- No products including surface coating products such as paint with toxicological hazards or that contains lead shall be used. Ie all coatings must be ‘Food Safe’
- Toys that use battery power for their operation shall be avoided.
- Jewelry: Different requirements under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act apply
depending on whether a consumer product is considered children’s toy jewellery or children’s jewellery. Those making such products will want to refer to “Industry Guide to Children’s Jewellery”.
- Toys that have latex balloons shall be avoided as they could result in children choking on uninflated latex balloons or fragments of a broken balloon.
- Toys which have magnets, which children could free and choke on, shall be avoided.
- Toys shall be avoided that may potentially cause a fall hazard, i.e., climbing toys.
- Generally, a toy shall not present any hazard when used in a reasonably foreseeable way.
For more comprehensive materials on the topics of toy safety, see:
Article 1: “Industry Guide to Health Canada’s Safety Requirements for Children’s Toys and
Related Products, Summary”: August 31, 2018
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-
publications/industry-professionals/industry-guide-safety-requirements-children-toys-related-products-summary.html
Article 2: “Toy Regulations” under Canada Consumer Product Safety Act:
Website:http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2011-7/index.html#docCont
Updated: December 10, 2020