Should Products with Button Batteries Have Stricter Safety Rules?

Official title: Consultation: Comment period for the danger to human health or safety assessment for products containing button or coin batteries and the packaging of button and coin batteries

Open Regulations & Permits Finance & Consumer Health & Safety
Health Canada wants to know if products containing button and coin batteries should meet stricter safety standards. These small, shiny batteries are a serious choking and poisoning hazard for young children. Products that don't meet the proposed safety criteria could be pulled from store shelves.

Why This Matters

Got kids or grandkids? Button batteries are in toys, remotes, watches, and hearing aids. If a child swallows one, it can cause severe internal burns within hours. This consultation could make those products safer—or remove dangerous ones from stores entirely.

What Could Change

If Health Canada determines these products pose a danger, they'll be added to Table 3 of the General Prohibitions process. That means products with button batteries that don't meet safety criteria—like secure battery compartments—could be banned from sale in Canada. Compliant products would stay on shelves.

Key Issues

  • Should products with button batteries that don't meet safety criteria be banned from sale?
  • Are the proposed safety criteria adequate to protect children from battery-related injuries?
  • Should packaging requirements for button and coin batteries be strengthened?

How to Participate

  1. Read the danger to human health or safety assessment to understand the proposed safety criteria.
  2. Email your comments to ccpsa-lcspc@hc-sc.gc.ca by the deadline.

Submit Your Input

Draft Email

Key Documents