Thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to the product recall announced on May 5,
2017 by Health Canada.
Ardene takes matters of consumer safety very seriously. Over the past year, we have
introduced a variety of new measures that govern both the procurement and testing of the
jewellery sold in our stores. This has included implementing a mandatory third-party testing
program for all of our children’s jewellery, and various items in our adult jewellery line. Since the
implementation of this new testing program, all results have revealed that all of our children’s
jewellery sold to consumers is well within our upgraded quality standards and all applicable
product safety guidelines.
The Ardene item affected by the May 5 Health Canada recall – the ‘Best Friend’ necklace
featuring watermelon and cactus decals - was subject to these product testing procedures.
Ardene can confirm that, in November 2016, a random sample of this necklace was tested by
an internationally accredited independent laboratory before it was shipped to stores. The results
of these tests showed that all of the components of this product were well below the limits set by
Health Canada and that the sample was found to be compliant with the relevant product safety
guidelines. During a routine inspection, a sample of the product and the test results were
provided to the Health Canada inspector. Health Canada tested the product and informed us
that its sampling and evaluation program had determined that a component of the necklace
contained lead in excess of allowable limits. Ardene then immediately had separate samples of
the component retested by the independent laboratory at two different locations – one located
in the United States, and one located in China - and both of those tests verified that the product
was in fact well below Health Canada’s limits. Because we were not involved in the tests
performed by Health Canada, we cannot provide any further insight on their results.
Regardless of the fact that our tests on 3 separate samples of the product by an independent
laboratory has demonstrated that the product does not contain lead in excess of the allowable
limits, Ardene is complying with the voluntary Health Canada recall. While we are satisfied that
all necessary measures were taken to validate that this product meets the industry’s rigorous
quality and safety standards, we are working closely with Health Canada to carry out their
request, as part of our ongoing commitment to both our customers and the industry.

Thank you,
Arden Holdings Inc.