Cyclical Enforcement Project 2019-2020: USB Chargers

Fiscal Year 2019-2020

Summary

The Consumer Product Safety Program (CPSP) administers and enforces the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and its regulations.

The purpose of this project was to sample USB chargers that plug into an electrical outlet and test them to the performance criteria of a consensus-based safety standard in order to verify compliance to the CCPSA. Health Canada has determined that certain USB chargers that do not conform to the applicable criteria set out in CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 60950-1-07 (R2016) - Information Technology Equipment - Safety - Part 1: General Requirements (Bi-National standard, with UL 60950-1), or the equivalent, pose a danger to human health or safety. The CCPSA paragraph 7(a) prohibits any person from manufacturing, importing, advertising or a selling a consumer product that is a danger to human health or safety. In addition, CCPSA paragraph 8(a) states that no person shall advertise or sell a consumer product that they know is a danger to human health or safety.

For this project, compliance of select USB chargers was determined through a sampling and testing process by which Health Canada inspectors visited establishments and sampled relevant products. Compliance to the specific requirement under the CSA standard was then verified through testing at the Product Safety Laboratory.

All electrical products that plug into an electrical outlet, including USB chargers, are already required to be certified to the applicable Canadian national safety standard to comply with provincial and territorial legislation. That certification must be from an accredited certification body and the certified product must carry the recognized certification mark of that certification body. Paragraph 9 (b) of the CCPSA prohibits the packaging or labelling of a consumer product in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive regarding its certification related to its safety or its compliance with a safety standard or the regulations. Section 10 of the CCPSA prohibits the advertising or sale of a consumer product that is known to be advertised, packaged or labelled in a manner referred to in section 9. Verifying industry compliance to these applicable requirements of the CCPSA was another objective for this project. This was accomplished by verifying product certifications with the listed certification body. For those products identified by the certification body as having unauthorized certification, the CPSP Inspector determined non-compliance due to misleading claims as provided under paragraph 9 (b) and section 10 of the CCPSA.

Over the course of the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 56 USB chargers were sampled for electrical strength testing. There were 10 products that were voluntarily recalled as a result of failing to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard. No other tests from the CSA standard, required for the certification of USB chargers, were carried out. Of the 56 products sampled, 44 had a recognized certification mark. Identification by the certification bodies of products having unauthorized certifications, and determination by inspectors of their non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA, resulted in 14 stop sales. Of these, there were 8 products for which the establishment corrected the certification issue and were able to continue sale for future product manufacturing. There were 3 products (4 total samples, 2 were the same product) that were identified to have unauthorized certification from the certification body, however non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA was not determined based on information provided by the establishment. These products were referred to the certification body. Of the 12 products that did not have a recognized certification mark, 4 failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard and were included in the recall. The 8 products that met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard but did not have a recognized certification mark were referred to electrical safety authorities responsible for enforcing provincial and territorial legislation. The overall product non-compliance rate for this project was 43%. There were 20 instances where no corrective action was required.

Results

Readers should consult the Consumer Product Update, if applicable, for details of the products subject to a voluntary recall.

Summary of the samples assessed and corrective actions taken during this project

Brand	Product Name	Source of Sample	Determination	Corrective Action
2Connect	Dual Port USB Adapter	A1 Imports Distributions	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by A1 Imports Distributions
a<<ent	Power Adapter	Giant Tiger Wholesale	No compliance issues detected	None
Amazon Basics	USB Chargers	Amazon.ca	No compliance issues detected	None
A-Tech by Ardene	USB Cable	Ardene	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Ardene, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Axessorize	PROCharge AC Adapter	Distribution Axessorize	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Distribution Axessorize, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Bluehive	USB Wall Charger	Canadian Tire Corporation	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Canadian Tire Corporation, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Common Craft	Dual USB Home Charger	Indigo	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Indigo, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Cool Bandz	Fast Wall Charger	Promotions C.D. Inc.	No compliance issues detected	None
CyberPower	Dual USB Wall Charger	Memory Express Inc.	No compliance issues detected	None
elink	USB Charger with foldable prongs (dual port)	HRS Global	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Certification mark unauthorized	Voluntary recall by HRS Global
elink	Universal USB Charger	HRS Global	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by HRS Global
FIFO	Dual USB Home Charger	Pro Line Sports Inc.	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Product did not have a recognized certification mark	Voluntary recall by Pro Line Sports Inc.
FIFO	iPRO USB Home Charger	Pro Line Sports	Product did not have a recognized certification mark but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
GetPower	Portable USB Home Charger	Home Hardware Stores Ltd.	No compliance issues detected	None
Griffin	Fast Compact Car + Wall Chargers	Giant Tiger Wholesale	No compliance issues detected	None
Home Exclusives	4 in 1 Adapter set with USB Port	Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) inc.	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
ibiZ	Dual USB Wall Charger	Group Jean Coutu (PJC) inc.	No compliance issues detected	None
iEdge	Wall Charger	Bianca Amor's Liquidation Supercentre	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Product did not have a recognized certification mark	Voluntary recall by Bianca Amor's Liquidation Supercentre
iessentials	Dual USB Wall Charger	Factory Direct	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Factory Direct
iFocus	USB Universal Power Adapter	Great Canadian Dollar Store	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Certification mark unauthorized	Voluntary recall by CTG Brands Inc.
Ikea	Koppla USB Charger	Ikea Canada Partnerships Ltd.	No compliance issues detected	None
Insignia	Charging & Care Kit	Best Buy Canada Ltd.	No compliance issues detected	None
Intakt	USB Home Charger	Guardian Dartmouth Gate	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Prime Deals International Ltd., certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Kingleen	Dual USB Power Adapter	Mega Box	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
Konex	USB Charger	Groupe Konex	No compliance issues detected	None
KSD	Dual Wall Charger KSD951	Groupe KSD	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Groupe KSD, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
KSD	Wall Charger KSD925	Groupe KSD	No compliance issues detected	None
Logiix	Power Cube Rapide Dual USB wall charger	London Drugs	No compliance issues detected	None
LS	Rising USB Charger	Gift Market Discount Centre Ltd.	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Certification mark unauthorized	Voluntary recall by Malmo Trading Inc.
LTE Power Supply	Single Port USB Charger	Northeast Wholesale	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Voluntary recall by Northeast Wholesale
Monster	Wall Charger	Visions Electronics	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
myTech!	Dual USB wall charger	Bed Bath and Beyond	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Bed Bath and Beyond, certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Nafumi	Smart USB Charger	Mega Box	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Product did not have a recognized certification mark	Voluntary recall with Mega Box
No brand	USB Power Adapter Charger	Gift Market Discount Centre Ltd.	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Certification mark unauthorized	Voluntary recall by Inspire Imports
No brand	USB Power Adapter	Chateau Manis Electronics	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Certification mark unauthorized	Voluntary recall by Chateau Manis Electronics
No brand	Double USB AC Adapter	Bay6 Computer Services	Failed to meet the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard Product did not have a recognized certification mark	Voluntary recall by Bay6 Computer Services
No brand	Double USB AC Adapter	3192386 Manitoba Ltd.	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
No brand	USB 3.1 amp Dual Adapter	Chateau Manis Electronics	No compliance issues detected	None
No brand	Single Port USB Adapter	9264-9854 Quebéc Inc.	No compliance issues detected	None
No brand (Travelocity licence)	Lightning Wall Charger	Curve Distribution	Certification mark unauthorized by certification body, non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA not determined	Referred to certification body
No brand (Travelocity licence)	Dual USB Wall Charger	Curve Distribution	Certification mark unauthorized by certification body, non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA not determined	Referred to certification body
onn	Wall Charger	Wal-mart Canada Corp.	No compliance issues detected	None
pdi Accessories	USB Charger	Army & Navy	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Prime Deals International Ltd., certification corrected for future product manufacturing
Power Gear	Dual Port USB Charging Kit	Princess Auto	No compliance issues detected	None
Profil	USB Charger	Distributions Franco	No compliance issues detected	None
Remax	USB Charger	Mega Box	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
ROX	Hi-speed USB Charger	Bargain Basket	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
SMART	Dual Port USB Wall Charger*	Peavey Mart	Certification mark unauthorized by certification body, non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA not determined	Refer to certification body
SMART	Dual Port USB Charger*	10017918 Manitoba Ltd. O/A Shell Canada	Certification mark unauthorized by certification body, non-compliance due to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA not determined	Refer to certification body
StarTech.com	2 Port USB Wall Charger High Power	StarTech.com	No compliance issues detected	None
Tech-1	AC to USB Adapter	Dollarama L.P.	No compliance issues detected	None
Tonex	Travel Adaptor 1 Port USB Smart Charger	Mpoint Communication Ltd.	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Mpoint Communication Ltd.
Tranyoo	USB Charger	Thinka	Product did not have a recognized certification mark, but met the electric strength performance requirement of the CSA standard	Referred to the provincial/territorial electrical safety authorities
Ubiolabs	Mobile Charging Kit	Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.	No compliance issues detected	None
Vivitar	2.1 AMP Dual USB Wall Charger	Sakar International	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Sakar International
Wellson	Universal USB Charger	Wisdom Electronics	Certification mark unauthorized by the certification body, determined non-compliant to the misleading claims prohibitions of the CCPSA	Stop sale by Wisdom Electronics

* Determined to be the same product

Disclaimer: A systematic bias is applied during inspection and sampling. Products are not randomly selected but are chosen because they are deemed by the inspector to be more likely to not meet health and safety requirements due to characteristics that are observed. Due to this biased nature of sampling and the fact that sample sizes within compliance verification projects are very small, the findings of these projects are not intended to reflect overall market compliance unless otherwise stated. These summary reports relate only to the products actually assessed and the specific criteria indicated. Testing by Health Canada does not represent approval or endorsement of the products.

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