In an effort to further strengthen Canadian safety requirements for playpens, Health Canada has issued proposed revisions to the Playpens Regulations (SOR/2016-189). The proposed revisions were published into the Canada Gazette Part I, Latest Publications, April 22, 2017, Volume 151, No. 16. Interested parties have 75 days from the date of publication within the Canada Gazette, Part I to provide comments on the proposal (until July 6, 2017).

Summary of Revised Regulation

The proposed Playpens Regulations includes the following:

※ An addition for potential entrapment openings

※ Requirements for mattress pad spacing, thickness, and vertical displacement

※ A proposal for incline sleep angles for accessories and segmented mattress pads

※ Proposed warnings to appear on the playpen 

※ An amendment to the current stability test

※ Added requirements for top rails including latching and locking mechanisms, false latch, top rail configuration, and top rail to corner post attachment

※ Added requirements for deflection and strength of sides

※ Added a requirement for hazardous projections

※ Added requirements for corner posts

※ An increase of the height of the side from the mattress pad to the top rail

※ An amendment to the openings (finger entrapment) requirement

※ An amendment to the floor strength requirement

※ A revised test method for the mesh openings 

※ Added a requirement for mesh and fabric attachment strength

※ Added requirements for accessories including entrapment hazards, side height, mattress pad thickness, integrity and sleep angle

※ The removal of the previous wheel/caster requirement

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