CSA Report: Online Sales of Unapproved Consumer Electrical Products in Canada

March 27, 2026

Canadian electrical regulators have identified that the online sales of unapproved consumer electrical products are of a serious concern, and with the growing number of online marketplaces globally there is likely a higher volume of unapproved, or non-compliant, consumer electrical products available for purchase to Canadian consumers.

In 2025, Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and the Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES) collaborated on a National Workshop Agreement (NWA) to host a series of workshops to address the online sale of unapproved consumer electrical products. The objective was to gather interested parties to gain consensus on the most effective ways to address this growing issue. This report summarizes what CSA heard.

Key Takeaways

• Electrical products sold in Canada must meet national safety standards and display a certification mark on the product itself under the provincial and territorial electrical safety legislation1. While this mostly works for physical stores, the rise of e-commerce may create a gap: many online platforms do not display certification markings, leaving consumers at risk of buying non-compliant or unsafe products.
  
• Preventing the sale of unapproved electrical products is not the responsibility of any one entity, but rather the result of all the key components of the electrical safety system working together.
  
• Educating consumers is crucial to help prevent the online sale of unapproved electrical products, as informed buyers can play a key role in identifying non-compliant products.
  
• Online marketplaces are expected to provide verifiable proof of certification on applicable online listings, such as an image of the certification mark or a link to the certification body’s listing.
  
• Online marketplaces are encouraged to sign onto the Health Canada Canadian product safety pledge for consumer products and cosmetics.
  
• Creating a unified Canada-wide approach (through a Memorandum of Understanding) for consumer electrical product safety, by clearly stating in one document all existing provincial, territorial, and federal regulatory requirements. This document, endorsed by all electrical safety authorities and regulators, would provide details of the safety requirements for all consumer electrical products sold in Canada. This is expected to significantly improve clarity about the requirements for all retailers, importers, and online marketplaces.