What happens if a product I bought is dangerous or defective — who is responsible?

What the Law Says

The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act sets clear legal duties for businesses that make or bring consumer products into Canada. It places responsibility on those who control the supply chain — especially manufacturers and importers — to ensure products are safe before they reach consumers.

Under section 7, manufacturers and importers must not manufacture, import, advertise, or sell any consumer product that poses a danger to human health or safety.

Section 8 reinforces this by explicitly prohibiting the advertising or sale of such dangerous or defective products — even if the seller didn’t make or import it, selling it still violates the law.

A 'danger to human health or safety' means a condition or characteristic of a consumer product that could reasonably be expected to cause death or injury during normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Statutory Text

Manufacturers and importers must not manufacture, import, advertise or sell consumer products that are a danger to human health or safety.

— Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, s. 7 — Manufacturer and importer obligations

Statutory Text

Prohibits advertising or selling consumer products that are a danger to human health or safety.

— Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, s. 8 — Advertising and selling

What Courts Have Said

Courts have clarified how liability applies when defective products cause harm — including economic losses — even without physical injury.

What to Do

Sources