Health Canada announced today the first-ever mandatory recall in Canada for a consumer product.
NeoMagnetic Gadgets Inc. was ordered to issue a recall after the company did not take action to remove their magnet sets from the market.
The announcement comes just weeks after a 16×9 investigation found the magnets posed an extreme danger when swallowed by children. The magnetic pull in the beads is so strong that if more than one is swallowed they can connect inside the body, tearing through tissue and organs.
In April, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced that the government would take action to remove products from the marketplace that contain small, powerful magnets which threaten the safety of young children.
“This first mandatory recall sends a strong message to industry that our Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “We will not hesitate to use our powers under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act to have dangerous products removed from store shelves.”
NeoMagnetic Gadgets Inc. has since complied with the order and Health Canada has published a recall notice on their website.
At the time of 16×9’s first report in March the U.S. had already taken action by stopping the manufacturing, importing and selling of the product across the United States, but, at the time, Health Canada said it was assessing the risk.
A few months ago 16×9 requested an interview with Health Canada regarding the safety of the magnetic beads. Health Canada turned down our request for an interview but provided a statement instead:
“Health Canada recommends that magnetic toys using powerful magnets never contain loose magnets that are small enough to be swallowed.”
You can watch our full investigation below:
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