Date Published: 24 March 2009

Health Canada and Canadian Standards Association Announce New Standard for Snow Sport Helmets

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, together with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), has announced the availability of a new CSA standard for recreational skiing and snowboarding helmets, as well as the establishment of an accompanying CSA certification program.

The CSA worked in consultation with Health Canada and other stakeholders to develop the new standard: Z263.1, Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Helmets. This new standard, and its related certification program that will soon be accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, is intended to help reduce head injuries to recreational alpine skiers and snowboarders.

"Health Canada is pleased to have worked with the Canadian Standards Association in the development of this new standard for skiing and snowboarding helmets," said Minister Aglukkaq.

"The Government of Canada will continue to raise awareness about safe helmet use through information and education programs."

Health Canada has begun consulting with stakeholders to seek their input on a proposal to reference the new standard in the Hazardous Products Act (HPA). The inclusion of the new standard in the HPA would make it mandatory for manufacturers to apply the new standard to all skiing and snowboarding helmets.

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