Health Canada has opened a public pre-consultation on a proposed initiative to introduce mandatory safety requirements for lithium-ion batteries and consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA). The consultation period runs from Dec 2, 2025 to Feb 14, 2026.

The notice highlights safety hazards linked to lithium-ion battery failures, ranging from overheating and off-gassing to fire, thermal runaway, and explosion. It also notes that some incidents can progress quickly and may be difficult to extinguish, creating broader public safety implications beyond end users.

Health Canada includes program-level context on reported incidents and recalls involving lithium-ion batteries over a multi-year period. The figures below summarize the headline numbers presented in the notice.

The notice states the initiative is not framed as a blanket restriction on lithium-ion batteries. Instead, the stated intent is to affect products that do not meet mandatory safety criteria.

Health Canada points to possible routes such as mandatory third-party certification and/or incorporating existing safety standards by reference. Candidate battery standards mentioned include CSA C22.2 No. 62133-2 (aligned with IEC 62133-2), UL 1642, and UL 2054. For consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries, the notice also highlights potential mandatory performance criteria connected to battery protection and battery management systems, aimed at keeping batteries within safe operating parameters.

As the regulatory path develops, companies involved in manufacturing, importing, and selling battery-containing consumer products in Canada may monitor how mandatory criteria are defined, what evidence packages are expected, and how transition timelines are staged. The practical impact is likely to show up in certification planning, lab readiness, and documentation consistency across supply chains.