Sunday, January 11, 2009

CPSC clarifies position on Children's Product Safety Laws

Under the new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties. For the complete article please refer to the link below:
CPSC

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Children's Products will be in shorter supply

Regulators need to anticipate the consequences of their actions. And historical actions of the designated enforcement organization may suggest their willingness to adapt regulations to reality or respond to public comment.

It appears the unintended consequences of a new law set to take effect 2/10/2009 could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to cease operations and throw away truckloads of children’s clothing. The scope of the law has been expanded by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Even new children's clothes manufacturers may be forced out of business resulting in lower business tax revenue due to newly required and expensive lead testing requirements.

In addition, millions will suffer from increased child clothes and toy expenditures.

A video on the story is available via the link below:
http://www.yahoo.com/s/1012195