Industry News

Congress Passes Reforms to CPSIA

August 3, 2011


On August 1, 2011, Congressed passed H.R. 2715, a bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The bill is designed to increase the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC’s) authority and to reform certain sections of the CPSIA. Modifications to the CPSIA’s regulations for children’s products include clarifying that the new lead content limit of 100 parts per million applies to products manufactured on or after August 14, 2011, the introduction of a new exemption process for lead content, and providing an alternative for, or exempting, small batch manufacturers from third-party testing. The bill also exempts or alters the lead content limit for certain products such as ATVs, bicycles, books and completely internal parts. Additionally, H.R. 2715 limits the phthalates ban in the CPSIA to plasticized, accessible parts. The bill further mandates that CPSC must seek public comment on ways to reduce the burden of third-party testing within sixty days of enactment.

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