At Kijiji, the safety and well-being of our community is our top priority. To ensure strict compliance with Health Canada regulations, the Food and Drugs Act, and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), we prohibit the listing, sale, or trade of certain medical devices, high-risk health products, and hazardous substances.
As a general rule, items that require a prescription, specialized medical oversight, or present an immediate safety or chemical hazard cannot be listed.
Prohibited Items Categories
1. Prescription & Restricted Medications
Any substance that requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional or is monitored under Health Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is strictly prohibited.
-
Prohibited items include:
-
Prescription drugs (e.g., antibiotics, blood pressure medication, specialized creams).
-
Unauthorized or unapproved health products lacking a Health Canada DIN (Drug Identification Number) or NPN (Natural Product Number).
-
Veterinary medications and prescription pet treatments (e.g., prescription flea/tick prevention).
-
2. Professional & Restricted Medical Devices
Medical devices are classified by Health Canada based on risk. Class II, III, and IV devices require professional oversight or licensing and cannot be sold peer-to-peer.
-
Prohibited items include:
-
CPAP and BiPAP machines, including associated humidifiers and therapeutic oxygen concentrators.
-
Prescription corrective eyewear (including prescription contact lenses and cosmetic/decorative contact lenses not approved for over-the-counter sale).
-
Professional diagnostic equipment (e.g., professional-grade ultrasound machines, professional dental tools).
-
Defibrillators (AEDs) (unless listed by an authorized, licensed medical supply distributor).
-
Hearing aids requiring professional fitting.
-
3. Prohibited, Recalled, and High-Risk Consumer Products
Any item officially banned from sale by Health Canada due to severe risk of poisoning, choking, fire, or chemical toxicity cannot be listed.
-
Infant & Child Safety Items:
-
Baby Walkers: Any wheeled walker device with an enclosed area supporting a sitting or standing baby, allowing them to move horizontally.
-
Self-Feeding Pillows & Structural Devices: Any device designed to position a feeding bottle so a baby can feed themselves while unattended.
-
Microbial-Filled Baby Products: Teethers, pacifiers, baby bottle nipples, or toys containing any liquid/filling that holds a viable micro-organism.
-
BPA Baby Bottles: Polycarbonate baby bottles containing Bisphenol A (4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol).
-
TCEP Polyurethane Foam: Any product intended for a child under 3 years old made of polyurethane foam containing Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP).
-
Car Seats: Car seats or booster seats that do not bear the National Safety Mark (NSM) or have expired.
-
-
Toxic, Chemical & Environmental Hazards:
-
Jequirity Beans: The beans themselves (Abrus precatorius), or any jewelry, art, or items made using them (highly toxic if swallowed).
-
Highly Flammable Eyewear: Spectacle/glass frames made of or containing cellulose nitrate.
-
Vinyl Chloride Containers: Disposable aerosol/metal spray containers containing vinyl chloride as a pressurizing fluid.
-
Toxic Inks, Oils & Textiles: Microscopy immersion oils containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); apparel treated with Tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate; and industrial cutting fluids combining nitrites and ethanolamines (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine).
-
Urea Formaldehyde Insulation: Foamed-in-place thermal insulation used in buildings.
-
Dangerous Novelties: Lawn darts with elongated tips; hazardous “sneezing powders” containing toxic compounds or specific plant derivatives (e.g., hellebore, white hellebore, Panama Wood); and kites or kite strings made of uninsulated, conductive metal or materials that conduct electricity.
-
Any product actively flagged on the Health Canada Recalls and Safety Alerts database.
-
4. Illegal, Regulated, and Bodily Substances
Products that pose a severe health hazard, encourage illicit activity, or violate federal distribution laws.
-
Prohibited items include:
-
Tobacco products, e-cigarettes/vapes, and e-liquid/e-juice (regardless of nicotine content).
-
Cannabinoid-containing products (THC/CBD) not sold through legally licensed provincial frameworks.
-
Illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia, and cutting agents.
-
Human body parts, fluids, or organs (including breast milk).
-
Allowed Items (Exceptions)
Users may list basic, lower-risk (Class I) medical and wellness items, provided they are clean, unexpired, and safe for consumer use:
-
Over-the-counter (OTC) mobility aids (e.g., standard crutches, wheelchairs, walkers without wheels/seats).
-
Unused, factory-sealed first-aid supplies (e.g., bandages, gauze, athletic tape).
-
Basic health monitors (e.g., consumer fitness trackers, unexpired digital thermometers, standard blood pressure cuffs).
-
Reading glasses (non-prescription, over-the-counter magnifying glasses).
Policy Enforcement
-
Automated Removal: Listings containing flagged keywords related to these prohibited items will be automatically blocked or removed by our system.
-
Account Sanctions: Users who repeatedly attempt to circumvent these rules or list prohibited medical or health items may face temporary suspension or a permanent account ban.
-
Reporting: If you spot an item that violates Health Canada guidelines, please click the “Report Ad” button located underneath the listing’s photo so our Trust & Safety team can review it immediately.