Some manufacturers, importers and retailers of window blinds still show no awareness that Canadian safety rules changed five years ago.
Health Canada continues to issue recall notices and warnings about numerous window coverings that violate Corded Window Coverings Regulations that were first passed in 2019, after many years of study and debate. Most recalls result from products with cords that pose a strangulation risk to children.
The revised regulations limit the length and “pull force” of any cord on a window-covering product. Any free-hanging cord or tethered cord cannot exceed 22 cm in length, and no cord, including inner cords, can produce a loop larger than 44 cm.
The regulations had a May 2021 implementation date but enforcement was delayed for a year after industry members pushed back, citing difficulties in understanding the testing requirements – which differed from U.S. regulations – as well as supply chain issues related to COVID-19.
But in the first months after the May 2022 enforcement began, Health Canada issued more than a dozen recall notices, covering hundreds of non-compliant products. That fall, more than 350 different products had been recalled for failing to meet the new safety requirements.
Recalls have continued since, often in clumps, as though Health Canada deals with complaints and findings in batches.
Another ‘batch’ of recall notices were issued in the first quarter of 2026, suggesting a portion of the market is either unaware of the new regulations or does not fear the consequences of producing non-compliant products.
Most of the 2026 recalled blinds were produced in Canada, though some were produce elsewhere and imported. Many were brought to market recently, so they were manufactured well after the updated safety requirements. Still, some of the recalled products have sales histories dating back to 2020, before the regulations updated, and so theoretically have avoided the earlier detection and enforcement efforts.
For example, Zebra blinds, manufactured by B&B Blinds in Calgary Alberta, have been available for sale for more than six years. More than 14,000 units of Harmony Alternating Blinds, made in South Korea by Storimage have been sold in Canada since May 2023.
Other recent recalls include:
• Sunshades made in Gatineau Quebec by Stores ‘aujourd’hui Gatineau Inc, available for sale since 2025.
• Roller blinds made by RMFL Import Export of Saint-Honore Quebec, available since 2025.
• Roller and duo blinds made by Interiors by Better Shade of St. Catharines Ontario, sold since December 2022.
• Roller shades made by Starlight Shutter of Scarborough Ontario, sold since November 2024.
All recall notices cited the strangulation hazard to children. Consumers were instructed to immediately stop using the products.