Duty to warn
The duty to warn is a legal obligation, mainly on manufacturers and suppliers of products, to give clear and adequate warnings of dangers inherent in a product's ordinary use that they know or ought to know about. It is part of the law of negligence and continues after the product is sold if new dangers come to light.
How BC law treats it
In Canada, the manufacturer's warnings must be clear, complete and current, and must reasonably communicate the nature and extent of the danger (Lambert v Lastoplex Chemicals Co, [1972] SCR 569; Hollis v Dow Corning Corp, [1995] 4 SCR 634). It is not a general duty on all businesses to warn customers of every risk.
What it means for your business
A business that makes, imports or distributes products should review its labels, instructions and recall procedures.
Risks and common mistakes
Failing to update warnings after learning of a new hazard can expose a supplier to negligence claims even if the original warning was adequate.
For the full explanation, see our entry on Product liability.
General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.
