May 15, 2019

No matter how hard one tries, some imports still hold surprises

In this trading world of strict law enforcement, penalties of all kinds, new arbitrary duties, transportation delays, storage charges, one tries to think of every possible angle before placing an order abroad.

But no matter how hard you try, something will eventually come up and ...surprise you.

Several years ago the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) initiated a recall, asking consumers who had purchased certain toy rifles from the stores of a major discount retailer to return them to the point of purchase.

The toy rifles, manufactured in China, contained soil that posed a risk to the Canadian environment. The soil, which was in a bag encased in the handle of each toy rifle, acted as a weight, to give a more realistic feeling to the toy. Tightly wrapped, the soil did not make any sound or rattle when the toy was shaken, and was only discovered when a kid ...broke one of them.

The soil could have spilled out and release potentially destructive insects, microscopic worms, fungi or bacteria. The CFIA stated at the time that it was issuing the recall due to the plant health risk associated with the soil, rather than any risk to human health.

Soil is recognized internationally as a major pathway for the introduction of plant pests. As a result, the entry of soil from outside of Canada and the United States is prohibited.

The toy rifles had been distributed to stores located in seven provinces. There was no public mention of any sanctions or settlement imposed by the CFIA on the retailer.