Discussion Document

October 2005

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The Problem

11. Children under three years of age are still at the stage of exploring their world by putting things in their mouth. However they do not yet have a fully developed cough reflex and are therefore especially vulnerable to inhalation and ingestion hazards from products that produce small parts when they break.

12. Dummies/pacifiers are products that children put into their mouth. The objective of the regulations would be to reduce the risk to children less than three years of age choking on dummies/pacifiers, by ensuring that the dummies/pacifiers meet small parts size and performance criteria.

13. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has received 15 complaints since 1988 for pacifiers and dummies. Maintaining the status quo is not considered a desirable option as the potential injury risk remains.

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