The Consumer Product Safety Information Act of 2008
The Consumer Product Safety Information Act of 2008 regulates the amount of lead and phthalates allowed in toys and children's products. The act requires manufacturers and importers to certify the safety of their products and get third-party testing for verification.
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Lead
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The Consumer Product Safety Information Act lowered the level of allowable lead in children's products. The amount of lead in paint and surface coatings allowed is 90 parts per million. The total lead content allowed will decrease to 100 parts per million in August 2011. The limits will be retroactively applied to all toys on retailers' shelves.
Phthalates
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Phthalates, which are added to plastics to make them more flexible, are limited in children's products under the law. Products cannot contain a level of phthalates higher than 0.1 percent. The limit does not apply to footwear and certain clothing items.
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Certification and Third-Party Testing
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The law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that their products meet the standards of the law. Companies must also have their products tested by an outside company to prove their products meet the standards.
Resellers and Charities
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The ban on sales of toys with excessive lead or phthalates applies to resellers and charities that redistribute used children's products. Donated products cannot be resold if they contain more than the allowable levels of lead or phthalates, even if the products were manufactured prior to the law.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit toys image by Ekaterina Krasnikova from Fotolia.com
