Play It Safe   

The big news in the industry last week was the high levels of cadmium found in children’s jewelry, based on an investigation by the Associated Press.  Testing of 103 items indicated that 12% of the jewelry contained at least 10% cadmium by weight, with some pieces containing between 84%-91% cadmium.  Cadmium is a known carcinogen and, like lead, it can hinder children’s brain development.  Unlike lead, its use in substrate materials of children’s products is not regulated in the U.S.  In fact, total cadmium in children’s metal jewelry is not specifically ...Read More

In addition to the US toy safety changes brought about by the CPSIA and Europe’s updated Toy Safety Directive, Canada is also proposing some significant changes in their toy safety regulation, the Hazardous Products Act and the associated Hazardous Products (Toys) Regulations.  This legislation has not been significantly updated since 1991, and Health Canada is taking a “Stepwise Approach” rather than implementing significant changes all at once. 

The first step...Read More

In a flurry of activity at the end of December 2009, the CPSC issued several important notices, many of which have significant impact on product testing and compliance in 2010 and beyond.  

First came the Commission’s decision to extend the stay of enforcement on testing and certification for many children’s products.  The stay of enforcement was due to expire on February 10, 2010 and third party testing of all children’s products could have been required.  While third party testin...Read More

Santa isn’t the only one making lists this time of year.  From the “10 Worst Toys” and “Trouble in Toyland” to “TOTY Nominees,” “TAGIE winners,” “The Big Toy Book,” and “NRF’s Top Toys,” it seems that everyone is looking at toys. 

The bigger question beyond which toys are the most popular, the most innovative, or the “toy of the week” is whether or not they are safe.  And are they safer this year than last year?  Did the increased testing and...Read More

Another provision of the CPSIA, aside from all the new testing and certification requirements, is the establishment of a public database.  This database, tentatively titled SaferProducts.gov, is intended to provide a single central location where consumers can go to report product safety incidents, and to search for prior incidents and recalls on products they own or may be thinking about buying.  If done properly, the database will be a valuable tool for all, including consumers, manufacturers, retailers, health care professionals, child care providers, testing laboratories, and other product safety experts.  However, if the database is not properly executed, th...Read More

The CPSC has released their long-awaited draft guidance document regarding CPSIA Testing and Certification, which will be voted on by the Commission.  The draft document includes valuable information that will help the industry understand the CPSC’s current position and considerations on a variety of topics, including what constitutes a reasonable testing program, recommended testing frequency, considerations for sample size, and component testing possibilities.  The document also includes clarification on certification requirements.  While it does not include the level of detail and definitive answers that some may have been hoping for (mys...Read More

On October 1, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) launched its new Toy Safety Certification Program® (TSCP) to industry participants.  This means that toy companies can apply for certification of their product, and TSCP-certified toys will begin to appear on store shelves next year.

The launch comes just over two years since the first meeting of toy industry stakeholders was held, in August 2007, to address the increased number of toy recalls during the Spring and Summer of 2007 (the so-called Year of the Recall) and to address the corresponding decrease in consumer confidence in the safety of toys. 

With the Stay of Enforcement scheduled to be lifted on February 10, 2010, all children’s product subject to a CPSC children’s product safety rule will require third party testing and certification.  The laboratories performing this testing must be accredited per CPSC requirements.  To this end, the CPSC has issued some important information related to test methods and laboratory accreditation requirements to certify compliance to Section 101 of the CPSIA, Lead in Certain Children’s Products. 

&n...Read More

The CPSC has issued a new testing policy for determining CPSIA phthalate compliance.   It is, in my opinion, a more common sense approach than the previous testing policy.  As we all know, section 108 of the CPSIA prohibits the sale of children's toys and child care articles containing more than 0.1% of certain phthalates.  In previous guidance issued by the CPSC, the agency had taken the posit...Read More

In time for the August 14 anniversary of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the CPSC issued their final interpretative rule on inaccessible component parts.  This is important because inaccessible component parts do not have to comply with the lead content limits of CPSIA, and do not need to be tested and certified as to lead content. Accessible component parts and materials, however, do require testing and certification, and compliance, to the lead content limits, unless otherwise specifically excluded.

The Act itself provides for an exception for inaccessible component parts, defined as “any component part of a children&rs...Read More

On August 14, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will reach the one-year anniversary of its enactment.  There are several provisions that become effective on that date, and the CPSC has issued several updates this month in preparation.

The Lead Content Limit decreases from 600 to 300 ppm as of August 14.  Children’s product exceeding the 300 ppm limit cannot be sold after this date.  We have been testing most products to this new limit since the beginning of the year in anticipation of the change.   ...Read More

I’m writing this blog from Zhuhai, China where tomorrow I will be participating in the first of 3 product safety seminars sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.  CCPIT, also known as the China Chamber of International Commerce, was established in 1952 and is considered the most important and largest institution for the promotion of foreign trade in China.  Together with representatives of the law firm of Holland & Knight and their China Risk Avoidance Team, we will be reviewing the ...Read More