OTTAWA - An organization that represents federal scientists and inspectors says no mandatory lead tests are conducted on toys and a host of other imported goods that find their way to Canadian store shelves.
Michele Demers, of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, says she was shocked to learn about the gap and blames federal cuts to science, research and labs across the country.
She told an Ottawa news conference that inspectors are able to examine a small sample of imported toys about once every three years.
Consumers are being forced to rely on a commercial lead-testing kit that Demers says is unreliable.
There have been a number of recalls this year involving Chinese-manufactured toys with lead paint.
Demers says Canada is falling behind the United States and pointed to a bill before the U.S. Senate, which would double funding to that country's consumer products safety commission by 2015.
