Health Canada Adds Button and Coin Battery Products and Packaging to CCPSA General Prohibition Table 3

SG 134/26

Health Canada adds products containing button or coin batteries and their packaging to Table 3 under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) general prohibitions approach.

On September 18, 2026, Health Canada updated Table 3 of its Approach to the General Prohibitions under the CCPSA to include products containing button or coin batteries, as well as packaging for these batteries.

Button and coin batteries present a significant ingestion hazard, particularly for young children. When swallowed, these batteries can become lodged in the esophagus and generate an electrical current that can result in severe internal burns, tissue damage, long-term injury, or death. To address this risk, Health Canada conducted a danger to human health or safety assessment and determined that products containing button or coin batteries, as well as button or coin battery packaging, must meet specific safety performance criteria, or an equivalent level of safety, to mitigate the identified hazards.

What are the requirements for regulated parties?

Manufacturers, importers, advertisers, distributors, retailers, and brand owners must not manufacture, import, advertise, or sell products containing button or coin batteries, or button or coin battery packaging, that do not meet the applicable performance criteria listed in Table 3.

• Consumer products (excluding toys)
  • ANSI/UL 4200A-2023 – Standard for safety for products incorporating button batteries or coin cell batteries (or equivalent)
• Toys
  • ASTM F963-23 – Standard consumer safety specification for toy safety (or equivalent)
• Reclosable packaging of button/coin batteries
  • CAN/CSA Z76.1-99 (R2003) Reclosable child-resistant packages
  • ISO 8317:2015 – Child-resistant packaging – Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packages
  • or equivalent
• Non-reclosable packaging of button/coin batteries
  • CSA C22.2 NO. 60086-4:19 (R2024) Primary batteries – Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries (adopted IEC/CEI 60086-4:2014, 4th Edition, 2014-09, with Canadian deviations)
  • IEC/CEI 60086-5:2021 Primary batteries – Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte
  • ISO 28862:2018 – Packaging – Child-resistant packaging – Requirements and testing procedures for non-reclosable packages for non-pharmaceutical products
  • or equivalent
• Labeling
  • ANSI/UL 4200A-2023 – Standard for safety for products incorporating button batteries or coin cell batteries
  • CSA C22.2 No. 62368-1:25 – Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment – Part 1: Safety requirements (Binational standard with UL 62368-1)
  • ASTM F963-23 – Standard consumer safety specification for toy safety
  • CSA C22.2 NO. 60086-4:19 (R2024) Primary batteries – Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries (adopted IEC/CEI 60086-4:2014, 4th Edition, 2014-09, with Canadian deviations)
  • IEC/CEI 60086-5: 2021 – Primary batteries Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte
  • ANSI C18.3M Part 2-2023 – Portable lithium primary cells and batteries – safety standard
  • CSA C22.2 NO. 62133-1:20 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications - Part 1: Nickel systems
  • CSA C22.2 NO. 62133-2:20 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications – Part 2: Lithium systems
  • or equivalent

Who is Impacted?

The addition of products containing button or coin batteries and their packaging to Health Canada's Table 3 may impact parties throughout the supply chain for affected consumer products, including:

• Manufacturers designing and producing products containing button or coin batteries
• Importers bringing affected products into Canada
• Distributors and wholesalers supplying products within the Canadian market
• Retailers and online sellers offering affected products for sale to consumers
• Private label brand owners responsible for product compliance under their brand name

When does it apply?

The Table 3 update became effective when it was published on September 18, 2026. Although Table 3 additions do not create a new regulation or statutory transition period, Health Canada has indicated that:

• The CCPSA general prohibitions are already in force
• The Department will initially prioritize compliance promotion following the Table 3 update
• Health Canada may take immediate compliance or enforcement action when it has reason to believe a product poses a danger to human health or safety or is otherwise non-compliant with the CCPSA

Products containing button or coin batteries are not prohibited in Canada. However, products and button or coin battery packaging that do not meet the performance criteria identified by Health Canada, or provide an equivalent level of safety, may be considered a danger to human health or safety under the CCPSA. Such products must not be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada and may be subject to compliance or enforcement action.

Our IECEE, NRTL and ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratories and specialized local experts have extensive experience in battery testing and offer a range of services to manufacturers and buyers in the industry. With unmatched expertise, we provide all the required technical verifications, safety settings and factory auditing services. Contact us to learn more, or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. 

Links:

Danger to human health or safety assessment for products containing button or coin batteries and the packaging of button and coin batteries

Notice of danger to human health or safety and risk mitigation for products containing button or coin batteries and the packaging of button and coin batteries