Consumer Product Update - Health Canada warns of potential safety hazards with some seasonal lights

OTTAWA, Nov. 13, 2015 /CNW/ -

Issue:

Health Canada is warning consumers of defects with some seasonal lights that may pose potential safety risks.

Health Canada initiated a national sampling and evaluation project to test seasonal lights due to a number of incident reports received by the department. Testing by Health Canada has shown hazards in several products including overheating, as well as the risk of fire and electric shock.

The following products are affected. Health Canada will update this list if there are additional recalls or communications related to the seasonal lights sampling project.

Product	Hazard Identified	Retailer(s)	Date
Life at Home® Indoor M5 Multicolour LED Lights (Set of 70)	Overheating and fire hazard.	Loblaw Companies Ltd	2015-11-12
Christmas Light 50 Miniature Straight Line Indoor Light Set	Overheating and fire hazard.	Dollarama	2015-11-13
Halloween 25 Miniature Straight Line Outdoor Light Set	Electric shock hazard.	Dollarama	2015-11-13
Holiday Time 100 count Indoor Mini Light Set	Overheating and fire hazard.	Wal-Mart Canada Corp	2015-11-19
Holiday Time Multi-Colour 100 LED C6 Light Set	Overheating and fire hazard.	Wal-Mart Canada Corp	2015-11-19
MAGI Decor brand white indoor string lights – 100 miniature lights	Fire and electric shock hazard.	Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc.	2015-11-20
CELEBRATE IT™ Christmas Basic Lights 100 Clear Indoor/ Outdoor Light Set	Overheating and fire hazard.	The Michaels Companies, Inc.	2015-11-24
CELEBRATE IT™ Bright Tidings 50 LED Indoor/Outdoor Light Set	Overheating and fire hazard.	The Michaels Companies, Inc.	2015-11-24
Danson Decor recalls Danson Decor 100 count Indoor Mini Light Sets	Overheating and fire hazard.	Danson Decor Inc.	2015-11-25
Expanded Recall: Various Life at Home® brand seasonal lights	Electric shock, overheating and/or fire hazard.	Loblaw Companies Ltd.	2015-11-25
Various seasonal light and mini light sets	Electric shock, overheating and/or fire hazard.	Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix	2015-11-27
All seasonal lights bearing the CSA certification mark file number 241989 or 263917	Electric shock, overheating and/or fire hazard.	Various across Canada	2015-11-28

What you should do:

Consumers who have any of the products identified should stop using these products immediately.

Consumers should be aware of the potential risks associated with the use of the affected seasonal lights and keep checking the Healthy Canadians Recalls and Safety Alerts Database for additional recalls or alerts. Follow the directions in each notice as they may vary for each recall or alert.

Always read and follow the warning labels on all products, including seasonal light products. For more information on Holiday Safety, visit the Healthy Canadians website. 

What Health Canada is doing:

Health Canada is seeking further information about products from the responsible companies as required. The chart above will be updated with links to any additional communications and recall notices that may be issued.

All affected products display CSA certification marks. Health Canada has contacted the CSA Group, which has advised that it is engaged in an active ongoing investigation of seasonal lighting. CSA Group has a zero tolerance policy for the misuse of its marks. For more information, please contact the CSA Group.

In Canada, industry is responsible for ensuring the safety of the products they sell. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits the manufacture, importation, advertisement or sale of a consumer product that poses a danger to human health or safety.

Health Canada continues to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to help protect Canadians from potentially dangerous consumer products. Health Canada regularly tests consumer products on the Canadian market and will continue to monitor products to help keep consumers safe.

Report health or safety concerns:

If you experience a health or safety problem with any product that you use, report it to Health Canada and to the manufacturer or the retailer where it was bought.

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SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Media Enquiries: Health Canada, [phone]; Public Enquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709