Be careful when buying child car seats and booster seats online!

Issue:

Transport Canada wants the public to be cautious when buying child car seats and booster seats online.

Details:

In Canada, child car seats and booster seats must have:

• a National Safety Mark (a round label with a maple leaf in the centre as shown in Photo 1), and
• a product information label attached to the seat

If a child seat is imported, it must still meet these two conditions.

The National Safety Mark is a sign that the seat you are buying complies with Canada's laws and rules for these types of seats.

Without the National Safety Mark, we don't know how the seat will perform in an accident.

In addition, if a seat doesn't have the National Safety Mark, then it's not certified for use in Canada. Using a seat without the National Safety Mark may also violate the law in your province or territory.

Transport Canada has found that some online stores have been selling child car seats and booster seats without the National Safety Mark, which means that these seats are not legal for sale in Canada.

What you should do:

If you've bought a child car seat or booster seat that doesn't have a National Safety Mark:

• check with your province or territory to see if using a seat without the mark is against the law
• if the seat is not compliant, contact the vendor and return it, and
• tell Health Canada about the uncertified seat and where you bought it

When shopping online for a child car seat or booster seat, please make sure that you are buying one that carries the National Safety Mark.

Always remember to use the right child car seat or booster seat for your child based on their stage of physical development, weight and height. Make sure that you use and install it according to the manufacturer's instructions and your vehicle's owner's manual.

Questions?

• More information about child car seats and child passenger safety
• Call Transport Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Line at 1-800-333-0371 (toll-free in Canada)