Industry News

CPSC Testing and Certification Stayed Until December

July 19, 2011


On August 14, 2011, the new lead content limit on children’s products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will take effect, but will not include third party testing and certification requirements as originally expected. The reduction in lead content levels has been phased in during a three-year period. Congress set the limit for manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors of children’s products at 600 ppm in February 2009, 300 ppm in August 2009, and finally at 100 ppm for August 2011. The limits are enforced according to the date on which a product is sold, imported or distributed in the U.S. rather than the date of manufacture. The new level applies to all children’s products, unless the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) deems that it is not technologically feasible for a certain product. The lead limit does not apply, however, to inaccessible parts and certain component parts of children’s products. As a result, the current stay of enforcement will remain in place until December 31, 2011 for the CPSIA’s lead content testing and certification requirements. Exceptions to the stay include children’s metal jewelry, which still requires third party testing.

 

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