Health Canada is urging Canadians to be vigilant when buying things second-hand.
Rose Gueret, a product safety officer with Health Canada says that whether it be on a Facebook buy and sell, or during a curbside giveaway, before buying or taking something second-hand, you should think about safety.
“Some of the things people can think about, if they’re going to buy something is, ask the seller if the product has been recalled,” said Gueret. “Ask a lot of questions, do they know if there’s any history with the product? Does the product have its label on it? Do they know how the product was used? It's really good to look at the overall condition of the product.”
Canada’s consumer safety laws apply to both new and used products; so Health Canada’s campaign is aimed at making sure people get the best product possible when buying something second-hand.
Gueret says the items that cause the most issues are those that are designed for children like toys or car seats.
Gueret added that the best way to find out if someone is trying to sell a recalled item is to check Health Canada’s recall website.
