Pinduoduo Temu releases Canadian glazed ceramic and glassware compliance requirements

Pinduoduo Temu platform has relevant requirements for Canadian glazed ceramics and glassware. The following is an interpretation of the relevant rules. Merchants please be aware of this!

1. Background

Lead glaze is often used in ceramic and glassware products because it can improve the strength, air tightness, stain resistance and glaze gloss of ceramic or glassware. Cadmium is often used in glaze addition to make the glaze appear light yellow or orange.

Lead and cadmium are highly toxic and can affect health if ingested, especially in children. Lead affects the nervous system and can cause mental symptoms such as depression, forgetfulness and confusion. Even small amounts of lead can cause learning and behavioral problems in children, and lead can damage the kidneys and blood system. Lead also accumulates in the body, and continued exposure to small amounts can lead to increasing levels of lead in the body. High doses of lead can cause seizures, coma and death. Cadmium can cause kidney damage and weak bones, and high levels of cadmium can cause vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness and muscle cramps. Exposure to high levels of cadmium over a short period of time can cause shock, collapse and sometimes even death.

2. Exposure to lead and cadmium from glazed ceramics and glassware

If lead or cadmium is used in glazes or other decorative elements of ceramics or glassware that come into contact with food, it may be transferred to the food in question, which may introduce lead or cadmium into the body. Lead and cadmium are very easily dissolved from worn and cracked surfaces of utensils. They are also more easily dissolved in hot foods and foods with high acid content.

3. Canadian Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations (GCGR)

Glazed ceramic and glassware and related products manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada are subject to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and the Canadian Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations (GCGR). Under the GCGR, glazed ceramic and glassware must not be used for food contact unless the lead and cadmium content meets certain limits. Such products must have design features or permanent warnings indicating that the product is not suitable for contact with food. In addition to these specific requirements, glazed ceramic and glassware are also subject to CCPSA regulations, including:

- Prohibits the manufacture, importation, advertising, or sale of any consumer product that "poses a threat to human health or safety" as defined in CCPSA (CCPSA sections 7(a) and 8(a))

-Requirements to prepare and maintain documentation related to suppliers and the location and duration of retail sales of products (CPSA Section 13)

- Mandatory incident reporting requirements (CCPSA Section 14).

IV. GCGR’s product range and examples

The GCGR applies to products manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada that:

- Made entirely or partially of ceramic or glass

- covered wholly or partly with coatings, glazes or decorations containing lead or cadmium

- Reasonably foreseeable use for storing, preparing or holding food

5. Compliance requirements

The amount of lead or cadmium that may be released from glazed ceramics or glassware is affected by the size and shape of the product. Therefore, the maximum limits of lead and cadmium that can migrate under the GCGR are different for products of different sizes and shapes. The following table summarizes the limits of lead and cadmium that can migrate from glazed ceramics and glassware.

- Flatware means a product with an internal depth not exceeding 25 mm, measured vertically from the lowest point of the interior to a horizontal plane passing through the overflow point.

-Hollowware refers to products with an internal depth greater than 25 mm, measured vertically from the lowest point inside to a horizontal plane passing through the overflow point. If its capacity exceeds 1.1 liters, it is a large hollowware, otherwise it is a small hollowware.

-Cups or mugs are any small hollow vessels used for consuming liquids.

- Pitchers are any large hollow vessels used for storing and dispensing liquids, but do not include creamers, coffee pots or teapots.

The GCGR also provides an exception for products that are used solely for decorative purposes. Such products do not need to meet the GCGR's limits for migratable lead and cadmium, but must have a design feature or permanent warning indicating that the product is not suitable for the storage, preparation or serving of food.

1. Design features make the product unsuitable for storing, preparing or serving food. And these design features are permanent, such as:

-Hole holes are set so that the product cannot hold food

- The product must be equipped with a hook or fastener, and the hook or fastener cannot be removed during the shelf life of the product to prevent it from being used to hold food

2. The warning must be in both English and French, and the height must be no less than 3 mm. The text must be in capital letters. A permanent warning is a warning that is always clearly visible throughout the product life cycle under normal use and cleaning conditions. A permanent warning can be a warning directly engraved, embossed or printed on the product.

DANGER!

CONTAINS LEAD—CONTIENT DU PLOMB

DO NOT USE FOR FOOD—NE PAS UTILISER POUR LES ALIMENTS

DANGER!

CONTAINS CADMIUM—CONTIENT DU CADMIUM

DO NOT USE FOR FOOD—NE PAS UTILISER POUR LES ALIMENTS

DANGER!

CONTAINS LEAD AND CADMIUM—CONTIENT DU PLOMB ET DU CADMIUM

DO NOT USE FOR FOOD — NE PAS UTILISER POUR LES ALIMENTS

The compliance requirements for Pinduoduo Temu Canadian glazed ceramics and glassware are as described above. We hope to help merchants understand the Pinduoduo Temu rules clearly and avoid violations.

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