Health Canada issues advisory over counterfeit N95 respirators

Jul 7 2020, 2:18 pm

Health Canada has put out an advisory to warn Canadians about counterfeit respirators.

According to Health Canada, a company called Shanghai Lansheng Light Industrial Products was found selling counterfeit N95 respirators.

Shanghai Lansheng Light Industrial Products were selling these respirators under another company’s name – Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Co. Ltd.

The advisory warns Canadians about the risks of using counterfeit respirators, with Health Canada saying that they “may not protect Canadians against the virus that causes COVID-19.

The N95 respirators made by Shanghai Lansheng Light Industrial Products were falsely labeled, marked and sold as approved by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

The company was directed to stop sales and recall the product.

Health Canada said in the advisory that they are also working with the Canada Border Services Agency to “prevent the importation of this product.”

They also said that they are taking action to stop imports and sales of counterfeit respirators in Canada.

Companies that may be importing or distributing these respirators will be directed to remove them from the market, as they are not permitted to be sold in Canada.

Authorizations will also be cancelled by Health Canada when there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that a product is counterfeit.

Canadians should check if their respirators have been tested and certified by NIOSH.

NIOSH also created a list of signs that a respirator may be counterfeit on their website.

Canadians should report health product “adverse events or complaints” to Health Canada.

Inventories of respirators should be reviewed by provincial and territorial health authorities and healthcare institutions to confirm that they meet the Government of Canada technical specifications for healthcare settings for the COVID-19 response. These technical specifications fall under the government’s “pandemic guidance for the health care sector.”

“If your respirator is counterfeit, stop using it as it may not protect you against the virus that causes COVID-19,” Health Canada said.

Irelyne LaveryIrelyne Lavery

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