By law, no piece of electrical equipment in Ontario may be sold, displayed or even connected to a source of power unless it is approved (Ontario Electrical Safety Code Rule 2-022).
To ensure everyone’s safety and to meet current Ontario legislation, all electrical equipment, insulating materials and conductors shall be
The code reads:
Rule: 2-022 Sale or Other Disposal and Use
No person shall use, advertise, display, sell, offer for sale or other disposal any electrical equipment unless it has been approved in accordance with Rule 2-024 and Ontario Regulation 438/07.
Rule: 2-024 Approval of Electrical Equipment
Electrical equipment is deemed to be approved if it has been approved according to the process set out in section 2 of Ontario Regulation 438/07.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) recognizes certification bodies and field evaluation agencies accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to certify or evaluate electrical products or devices. Only equipment bearing a recognized mark or label is deemed to be approved. A list of recognized marks and labels is available on our website.
Failure to comply with these Rules or the Regulation is an offense and upon conviction, a person or director/officer of a corporation could be found liable to a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year. A corporation may be found liable to a fine up to $1,000,000. ESA also has the authority to order products be quarantined, seized or forfeited to the Crown for disposal.