More CPSIA rules unveiled
February 9, 2009
By R.G. Edmonson, Journal of Commerce
WASHINGTON -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission will not impose penalties on manufacturers, distributors or importers of children’s products made with natural products, some children’s books, and dyed or undyed textiles used for children’s apparel under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
The CPSIA limits for lead and certain phthalate compounds in children’s products take effect Tuesday. Retailers must not sell items intended for children under 12 that contain more than 600 parts per million lead, or more than 0.1 percent phthalates.
Joseph Martyak, CPSC chief of staff, said Feb. 6 that the commission decided not to enforce on such products as wood and cotton that rarely contain lead. The commission is still drafting rules covering these items, but decided an enforcement stay was a common-sense approach.
However, the stay does not include articles made of leather, vinyl or polyvinylchloride (PVC), including zippers or metallic thread. The stay is limited to books published after 1985, since printing inks bearing lead were banned that year.
In a separate action, the commission voted unanimously to turn down a petition by the National Association of Manufacturers to withhold enforcement of the CPSIA until the CPSC issued all rules and regulations for the law.
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