Grey Market & Product Safety
Choose Authentic. Choose Compliant.
Electrical products play a critical role in the safety and reliability of Canada’s homes, businesses and infrastructure. Products that are counterfeit, unapproved, misrepresented or obtained through questionable sources can create serious safety, compliance and liability risks.
Knowing what to look for — and where your electrical products come from — can help protect your customers, your business and the people who rely on the systems you install.
Understand the Risk
What is Grey Market?
“Grey Market” is commonly used to describe products sold outside a manufacturer’s authorized distribution channels. However, the broader safety concern can include products that are:
- counterfeit or falsely represented as genuine
- used or refurbished but represented as new
- unapproved or not certified for use in Canada
- altered, damaged or of uncertain origin
- sold with missing, misleading or falsified certification information
Know the Source
Where You Buy Matters
Electrical products are available through distributors, retailers, brokers, online stores and third-party marketplaces.
Regardless of where you purchase, take steps to understand who is actually selling the product and whether its origin can be verified.
Before You Buy
Know the seller.
Purchase electrical products from trusted, industry-approved sources, including distributors authorized by manufacturers or recognized within the electrical industry. These sources can help provide greater confidence in product authenticity, traceability, warranty and support.
Look closely online.
A product listed on a familiar website may actually be sold by an independent marketplace seller.
Question unusual pricing.
A price significantly below normal market value can be a reason to look more closely at the product and seller.
Check warranty and support.
Confirm whether the product is covered by the manufacturer’s applicable warranty and support.
Verify authorized channels.
Consult the manufacturer’s website or contact them directly to confirm authorized distributors and retailers.
Check the Product
Check Before You Install
Counterfeit, unapproved or misrepresented electrical products may be difficult to identify. Before purchasing or installing electrical equipment, take a few steps to confirm its authenticity and compliance.
Check certification marks.
Look for valid certification marks recognized in Canada. Be cautious of missing, altered or questionable markings.
Verify product information.
Check the manufacturer, model number, specifications and packaging for inconsistencies.
Confirm product condition.
Watch for signs of damage, alteration or used products being represented as new.
Check ratings and suitability.
Ensure equipment is properly rated and approved for its intended application.
Not sure? Verify before you install.
Consult the manufacturer or certification organization if you have concerns about a product’s authenticity or approval.
Report a Concern
See Something Questionable?
If you encounter an electrical product with a missing, suspicious or potentially false certification mark — or have concerns about whether a product is approved for use in Canada — don’t ignore it.
Depending on the concern, information and reporting resources are available through:
Standards Council of Canada
Certification bodies and recognized certification marks
Health Canada
Consumer product safety incident reporting
Provincial and Territorial Electrical Safety Authorities
Product approval, electrical safety and local reporting information
Certification Organizations
Verify certification marks and access resources to report potential concerns
Grey Market Awareness Resources
Download the Poster
Help raise awareness in your workplace, branch or customer network.
For electrical products, those questions matter.
Choose Authentic. Choose Compliant.
Download and share the Grey Market Awareness poster