CanadaCan the government force a recall of a dangerous consumer product?
Yes, the Canadian government can force a recall of a dangerous consumer product under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
What the Law Says
The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act gives the federal government strong powers to protect Canadians from unsafe consumer products.
Under section 14 of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Minister of Health has the legal authority to order a mandatory recall if a consumer product presents a danger to human health or safety.
This power applies regardless of whether the manufacturer or importer agrees — the order is binding and enforceable by law.
The Act defines 'danger' broadly to include any unreasonable hazard arising from normal or foreseeable use of the product.
Statutory TextMinister may order recall of consumer products presenting a danger to human health or safety.
— Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, s. 14 — Recall powers
What to Do
If you manufacture, import, or sell consumer products in Canada, monitor for safety issues and report incidents to Health Canada.
If Health Canada issues a recall order, comply immediately — delays may result in penalties or prosecution.
Cooperate with Health Canada’s investigation and provide requested information about product distribution and risk assessment.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.