A number of car seat recalls have been issued throughout the United States because the items were not up to federal safety standards. But a new report raises questions about how other countries perceive goods available in America.
In Canada, it’s illegal for consumers to purchase a car seat in the U.S. and then bring the item across country lines. This is because our country has lower standards for such products than what is required in Canada. In fact, Canadians caught using a car seat from America or some other country could face a $176 fine, a lawsuit, or possible criminal charges.
The stringent requirements in Canada are mandated by the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations and Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. All car seats are required to have a National Safety Mark label affixed to the item to certify that the seat is indeed safe for use.
For their part, the Canadian Border Service Agency has said that the threat of American car seat importation is not great enough so as to require added border controls to prevent the seats’ entry into Canada.
I find this story fascinating as a car accident lawyer in Bakersfield. We often like to believe that the products we use on a daily basis are going to be safe for use because of the regulations in place, but this shows you that other countries’ regulations might be far more stringent than our own. As a Bakersfield personal injury attorney, I don’t know if this means that our own regulators need to be more strict on what’s for sale on American shelves, but it’s certainly something to consider.