. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/CAN/114 
30 November 2004 
 (04-5210) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original: English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Transport 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   Canadian Enquiry 
Point, 200-270 Albert Street, Ottawa, Onta rio, Canada, K1P 6N7 Tel.:  +1 613 238 3222, 
Fax.:  +1 613 569 7808, E-mail:  info@scc.ca 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Infant restraint systems 
(ICS:  97.190, 43.080) 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Amendment 
to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Standards 210.1 and 210.2) (Pages 3385-3393, 
English and French) 
6. Description of content:   The Department of Transport (the Department) is proposing to 
amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations . The proposed amendmen ts are intended to:  
 
• Introduce requirements, in Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 210.1, 
User-ready Tether Anchorages for Restraint Systems and in CMVSS 210.2, Lower 
Universal Anchorage System for Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions , for every 
bench seat on school buses to be equipped w ith either one or two sets, depending on 
the size of the bench seat, of user-ready tether and lower universal anchorages for 
the safe installation of child restraints;  and  
 
• add requirements, in CMVSS 210.1, for th e installation of two sets of user-ready 
tether anchorages in buses, other than sc hool buses, with a gross vehicle weight 
rating (GVWR) of 4 536 kg or less and specify, in CMVSS 210.2, the number of lower universal anchorages to be installed in those vehicles.  
 
The focus of the proposed new amendments is  to improve safety and simplify the process 
by which caregivers restrain infants and child ren in school buses of all sizes and in buses 
with a GVWR of 4 536 kg or less.   G/TBT/N/CAN/114 
Page 2  
 
 
Background   
 
Historically, school buses have been used to  transport school aged children to and from 
school or activities. 
 
Recently, a new social phenomenon has emerged.  Pre-school aged children are increasingly being transported on school buses.  In an e ffort to assess the safety of small children 
travelling in school buses, the Department conduc ted tests to evaluate the safety implication 
of this new social trend.  Sled tests involvi ng several restraint conditions for small children 
were conducted.  The study reviewed passive restraint systems for school bus seats, lap 
belts, child restraint systems secured by a lap belt, and child restraint systems secured by a 
universal anchorage and a user-ready tether anchorage.  Based on this study, the Depart ment is proposing to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety 
Regulations to make the requirements of CMVSS 210. 1 and CMVSS 210.2 applicable to all 
school buses. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of human safety 
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Part I, 20 November 2004 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Not stated  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 April 2005 
10. Final date for comments:   3 February 2005 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses,  if available of the other body:  The electronic 
version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2004/20041120/pdf/g1-13847.pdf