Recent product recalls ranging from pet food to spinach to toys with high lead contents had prompted the drafting of the law, which includes easier entry into the market of new drugs, in the process setting aside some safety checks.
The unveiling of the new law is seen as a pre-election strategy for Harper. It updates the Food and Drugs Act and creates a Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act.
The prime minister will give Canadians a peek at the new legislation at the yearly convention of the Canadian Consumer Specialty Product Association, a group of companies selling household cleaners, soaps, air fresheners and similar items.
Shannon Coombs, president of the association, expressed satisfaction with the tougher product safety law to be unveiled by Harper. Coombs told Globe and Mail, "Because the marketplace is changing so fast and the diversity of the products available, I think it gives government the flexibility to be able to respond to potentially new situations that may be causing injury."
The new law grants the federal government mandatory product recall powers and authorizes the imposition of a fine up to $1 million for commodities sold with defects or unsafe.
Similarly, the Food and Consumer Products Confederation supported the new measure. Nancy Croitoru, president of the confederation, in a press statement, said, "This legislation aims to level the playing field and ensure all companies are equally accountable for what they import and sell to consumers."
