July 14, 2011

Details

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced all children's products sold, offered for sale, manufactured for sale, distributed in commerce, or imported for sale in the United States, must meet the 100 ppm lead content limit beginning August 14, 2011, as statutorily mandated under section 101(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Some children's products may be excluded if the components are inaccessible to the child by means of a sealed covering that does not become physically exposed during normal use and abuse of the product. 

Why It Matters

Lead is a potent poison and children are exceptionally vulnerable due to their rapidly developing nervous systems. Exposure can have a wide range of effects on development and behavior, and even children with lead levels in small amounts may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth and hearing loss. High levels of lead can cause permanent brain damage and possibly death. 

The CPSC has stayed the requirement that the lead content of children's products be certified by an accredited, third-party testing laboratory until December 31, 2011. However, manufacturers are still required to comply with the 100 ppm limit beginning August 14, 2011, and non-compliance may lead to a product recall.

How UL STR Can Help

UL STR's state-of-the-art laboratories provide a wide range of customized quality assurance solutions for consumer product testing. Our chemical and analytical services include testing for lead, cadmium, BPA, phthalates, heavy metals, and toxins in packaging to help manufacturers, importers and retailers comply with government regulations.

To learn more about how UL STR can help you achieve the highest standards of product safety and quality, submit the short form below. An UL STR representative will follow up with you soon.