New US Regulation CPSIA - Part 3 (Phthalates)

Apart from the Lead ban, the prohibition of Phthalates is one of new requirements in the CPSIA. Mandatory and interim bans on phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP are permanently banned and DINP, DIDP, DNOP are banned on an interim) applied in toys for children and childcare articles.

"Children's Toys" are defined as "a consumer product designed or intended by the manufacturer for a child up to age 12 for use by the child when the child plays".

"Child Care Articles" are defined as "a consumer product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep or the feeding of children age 3 and younger, or to help such children with sucking or teething".



Phthalates ban (Sec. 108)
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Group 1 (DEHP, DBP, BBP) [Permanent Ban]
Scope: Toys for children up to age 12 or childcare articles up to age 3
DEHP <= 0.1%
DBP <= 0.1%
BBP <= 0.1%

Group 2 (DIDP, DINP, DNOP) [Interim Ban]
Scope: Toys for children up to age 12 that can be placed in the mouth* or childcare articles up to age 3
DIDP <= 0.1%
DINP <= 0.1%
DNOP <= 0.1%
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* Remark:

"Placed in the mouth" is defined if a toy or a part of a toy in one dimension is smaller than 5cm. If the children's product can only be licked, it is not regarded as able to be placed in the mouth.

** Effective Date on 10 Feb, 2009

New US Regulation CPSIA - Part 2 (Lead)

Under the Consumer Product safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, new chemical substance requirements were enacted on 14 August, 2008. Lead containing paint and lead in substrates are banned in all children's products in order to prevent children from being poisoned from eating or licking any lead-containing products.

Lead ban (Sec. 101): __________________________________________________

A. Total substrate of products for children up to age 12

<=600ppm (Effective date on 10 Feb,2009)

<= 300ppm (Effective date on 14 Aug,2009)

<= 100ppm (Effective date on 14 Aug,2011)

B. Lead in Paint / Surface Coating

<= 600ppm (Crrent)

<= 90ppm (Effective date on 14 Aug, 2009)

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Remarks:

1. Total substance excludes any component part of a children's product that is not accessible to be a child through normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse of such product.

2. Reasonably foreseeable use and abuse is including, swallowing, breaking, mouthing, or other children's activities, and the aging of the product.

3. Paint, coating or electroplating are not barriers to be the substrate being inaccessible as these substances will peal off or ageing from the total substrate.

For more understanding about Lead poisoning:

http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V3/Lead-Poisoning.html

New US Regulation CPSIA - Part 1

On August 2008, President George W. Bush of the United States signed a landmark legislation 'Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 (HR 4040)', to reauthorise the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for FY 2010-2014 and expanded the Commision's role in ensuring the safety of consumer products, especially those intended for children. The aim of this act is to protect th American public from unresonable risks of injiry and dealth posed by consumer products and is in response to a wave of recalls of "toxic toys" and other products.

The act directs CPSC to provide guidance on implementation specific provisions as per schedule mndated in the CPSIA legislation. To further address he requirements for the GCC (General Certificate of Conformity), the CPSC has published a final rule for such requirements.

For new requirements under CPSIA, please kindly see the further parts of this topic.

For more detail about:
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)