Welcome to Electro-Federation Canada’s online information resource for unsafe and counterfeit products.
EFC is dedicated to helping members protect their brands by promoting electrical safety through codes and standards and by taking an active role in detecting and removing unsafe and counterfeit products from the market. To this end, EFC has formed a high-profile task force that includes executives from leading electrical companies in Canada. This group represents the electrical industry by working closely with key stakeholders (CSA, UL, provincial regulators, and others) to improve policies and practices for the contravention of unsafe and counterfeit products.
The task force includes the following organizations:
For more information, contact Wayne Edwards at 647-258-7483.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What if the electrical product that I purchase doesn’t have an approved marking on it (i.e. CSA, UL, ULC)? Is the product unsafe?
A. The absence of a mark would suggest that the product is not safe for use and should in no way be employed. Contact the local safety authority in your area to report the product or submit a product incident report here.
Q. What if I suspect a product that appears to be approved to be counterfeit or unsafe? How do I verify the product’s authenticity?
A. With few exceptions, the product will have a listing number in the general area of the certification logo. This listing can usually be verified on the certification agency’s Website (see list of Support Organizations here). You can also contact the appropriate certification agency.
Q. What if I find a discrepancy in the product listing number when I look it up on the certification agency’s Website?
A. You should notify the certification agency and the regulatory authority in your province and territory with all relevant product information. These organizations will investigate the validity of the product listing number.
Q. Are low-cost electrical products that appear to be certified unsafe or counterfeit?
A. This should be a “buyer beware” warning. Typically, counterfeit and unsafe products are sold through low-cost distribution and retail outlets. Generally, large reputable distribution and retail outlets are reliable sources of safe electrical products.
Q. What if I suspect an unsafe or counterfeit product that is located at a distributor’s site?
A. Report your concern to the local safety authority that has jurisdiction in the distributor’s area (see listing of authorities on the Support Organizations page) and to the appropriate certification agency, if indicated on the alleged unsafe or counterfeit product.
