Electrical Product Safety

Product Approval Requirements

The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and Ontario Regulation 438/07 require that all electrical products and devices (including equipment) be approved.

Specifically, the Code states –

Rule: 2-022 Sale or Other Disposal and Use
• No person shall use, advertise, display, sell, offer for sale or other disposal any electrical equipment unless it has been approved in accordance with Rule 2-024 and Ontario Regulation 438/07.

Rule: 2-024 Approval of Electrical Equipment
• Electrical equipment is deemed to be approved if it has been approved according to the process set out in section 2 of Ontario Regulation 438/07.

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) recognizes certification bodies and field evaluation agencies accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to certify or evaluate electrical products or devices.  Only equipment bearing a recognized mark or label is deemed to be approved. A list of recognized marks and labels is available on our website.

Failure to comply with these Rules or the Regulation is an offence and upon conviction, a person or director/officer of a corporation could be found liable to a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year. A corporation may be found liable to a fine up to $1,000,000.

ESA also has the authority to order products be quarantined, seized or forfeited to the Crown for disposal.

Application for Permission to Show/Energize

Exceptions to Product Approval Requirements

Recognized Certification Marks

Reporting Unsafe Products