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Everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products sold, whether new or used, are safe and meet current safety standards. It is important to only sell items that are in good condition. Damaged articles should be discarded.

Before selling a product at a garage sale, check with the manufacturer or Health Canada to see if it has been recalled and if the problem has been corrected. If it has been recalled and the problem has not been or cannot be corrected, do not sell the product. Destroy it so it cannot be used by anyone else and throw it away.

To check for consumer product recalls posted by Health Canada:
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps-recalls

The Hazardous Products Act is administered by Health Canada. It has safety requirements for certain consumer products, many of which are intended for use by children. Under the law, you cannot import, sell, give away (including lending), or distribute products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act.

All cosmetics sold in Canada must meet the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, the current Cosmetic Regulations, and all other applicable legislation to ensure that they are safe to use and do not pose any health risk.

The next time you are planning to hold a garage sale, Think Safety!

The following is a partial list of products that must meet safety requirements under the Hazardous Products Act and the Cosmetic Regulations:

Baby Gates - Baby gates that have large diamond-shaped openings or large "V" openings at the top are illegal to sell in Canada. A child's head can get caught in these openings and the child could strangle. Baby gates must come with information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture and information regarding instructions for use and installation.

Baby Walkers (BANNED) - Baby walkers have been illegal to sell in Canada since April 2004. Anyone with a baby walker is advised to destroy and discard it so that it cannot be used.

Car Seats - Car seats must meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Before selling a used car seat, check with Transport Canada (1-800-333-0371 or www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety) for more information and to find out if the car seat has been recalled.

Children's Jewellery - Lead is very toxic. Lead is a soft, heavy, bluish-grey metal that is often used to make inexpensive jewellery. A child can suffer from lead poisoning if they suck, chew, or swallow jewellery containing lead. Jewellery containing lead, which has a protective or decorative coating, is not safe since children can easily chew off the coating. If you are not sure whether a children's jewellery item contains lead, do not offer it for sale.

Children's Sleepwear - Loose-fitting sleepwear (including nightgowns, bathrobes, and loose pyjamas) burns more easily if made of cotton or cotton blends. To meet the flammability requirements, loose-fitting children's sleepwear should be made of polyester, nylon, or polyester/nylon blends. Cotton or cotton-blends may only be used for tight-fitting styles, such as sleepers or polo pyjamas.

Cosmetics - Used, old, or damaged cosmetics should never be sold. These products may contain harmful bacteria that could cause skin rashes or lead to infections. Additionally, second-hand cosmetics may be missing required labelling information, such as ingredients, warnings, and directions for safe use. A cosmetic is defined as a beauty preparation (make-up, perfume, skin cream, nail polish) or grooming aid (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant) used for cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth.

Cribs - Cribs must come with information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, date of manufacture, and assembly instructions. Cribs made before September 1986 do not meet current safety standards and are illegal to sell under the law. It is also important that the mattress used in the crib fits snugly with a gap of no more than 3 cm between the mattress and the crib. The spacing between the bars should be no more than 6 cm. Corner posts must be no more than 3 mm high. The mattress support must be firmly fixed to the end panels. Cribs that have a floating mattress support system with S or Z-shaped hooks are not safe and must not be sold. Cribs with visible signs of damage, missing parts, or missing information should be destroyed.

Hockey helmets and face protectors - Hockey helmets and face protectors sold in Canada must meet safety standards set by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). If the CSA sticker is not present, throw the product away. Hockey helmets normally last for about three to five years. These items must not be sold if previously subjected to major impact, if older than five years, if showing visible signs of damage, or if parts are missing. Hockey helmets must have labelling with the date of manufacture and have a chin strap.

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Lawn Darts (BANNED) - It is illegal to sell lawn darts with elongated tips in Canada.

Playpens - Do not sell playpens that have protruding bolts, worn or faulty mechanisms, or torn vinyl or mesh. Playpen mesh must be small mosquito-type netting. When selling a folding playpen, ensure that all locking mechanisms work and set-up instructions are included. Playpens must be accompanied by information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture.

Strollers -Carriages and strollers made before 1985 may not meet current safety standards, and must not be sold. Strollers must come with a lap belt, or safety harness that is solidly attached to the seat or frame. Ensure the brakes, as well as locking mechanisms on folding models, are in working order. Make sure that the wheels are securely attached. Strollers must be accompanied by information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture.

Toys - Toys that are in poor repair, broken, have sharp edges or points, or have loose eyes or noses are not safe and should not be sold. Recently, there has been an increased number of recalls on toys with paint containing lead; check that toys have not been recalled before selling them.

Toys with Magnets - Small powerful magnets used in toys, figurines, science kits, board games, and other household items may pose a hazard if the item is small enough to be swallowed or if the small magnet breaks away from the product and is swallowed. If a child swallows more than one magnet over a short period of time, the magnets can attract one another while travelling through the intestines. When this happens, the magnets can twist the intestines and create a blockage or they can tear through the intestinal walls. The results can be very serious and even fatal. Check toys for loose magnets before selling them. Due to recent recalls on this type of product, check the Consumer Product Recalls Web site to ensure that the products you are selling have not been recalled.

Examples of other items that pose a safety hazard:

Drawstrings On Children's Clothing - Drawstrings, especially on snowsuits, jackets and sweatshirts, can become caught on playground equipment, fences or other objects. Drawstrings on children's clothing should be removed prior to sale.

Helmets (other than hockey helmets) - Helmets, such as bicycle and rollerblading helmets and equestrian riding helmets, are designed to protect the head against a single impact. It is not recommended to resell these products.

Window Blinds - Children can strangle on cords and bead chains of blinds and curtains. Looped cords can wrap around a child's neck and act like a noose and long pull cords can wrap around a child's neck.

Blinds or curtains with pull cords should not be sold unless they have:

• tension devices attached to any looped pull cord;
• devices on the pull cords to stop the inner cords from being pulled out; and
• labels with instructions to keep pull cords out of the reach of children.

For more information on blind and curtain cord safety visit www.healthcanada.gc.ca/blindcords.

Infant Bath Seats and Bath Rings - Reselling these products is not recommended because the suction cups or other means to attach the product to a tub can be ineffective. These products are NOT safety devices. Many babies have died when they were left alone in a bath seat or bath ring, even for a short time. Reselling infant bath seats or bath rings can be especially dangerous because any warnings and/or instructions that could have alerted a caregiver of the serious drowning hazard related to these products may be out of date or missing entirely.

For more information, contact Consumer Product Safety, Health Canada: 1-866-662-0666, email cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca ,or visit www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps.

To check for consumer product recalls posted by Health Canada: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps-recalls.