Within the coming weeks, Shaw Industries Inc. (Dalton, Ga.) will deliver wood flooring products to its importers and dealers in Canada to be sold in place of products made using prison labor.
In January, Shaw, along with its subsidiary Anderson Hardwood Floors (Clinton, S.C.), discovered its products manufactured using prison labor are prohibited in Canada. Such goods violate a section of Canada's Customs Tariff Act; the section, Memorandum D9-1-6, was added to the act in 1988.
Shaw Director of Corporate Communications Susan Rich said her company still does not know what will happen with prison-produced goods already in the hands of Canadian dealers importers. Publicly, Canadian authorities have been tight-lipped about that matter.
Shaw met with dealers and presented prototypes of the new products during its "Power Up" Winter Markets events in Anaheim, Calif.; and Niagara Falls, Ontario. "Customers and Shaw associates love the new visuals," Rich said. "Customer samples will be available in the next few weeks."
Rich said Shaw will continue its participation in the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) for goods distributed in the U.S. PIECP is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
