There is some good news for manufacturers of children products, especially small manufacturers. The enforcement of new lead testing regulations under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act--which could be as costly as $1,500 per item--has been delayed a year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously to stay the regulations until February 10, 2010 to give "the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted."
This is the rare case of a public campaign actually getting results. Toy makers dubbed February 10,2009--when enforcement of these rules was originally going to take effect--"National Bankruptcy Day." February 10 will still mean that the new limits on lead in children's products--down to 600 parts per million--are in effect. But businesses won't need to pay for tests to show that they are under that limit. Read here for more on that point and to which types of products this stay applies.
There's no guarantee that the testing regulations will be significantly changed by February 10, 2010. Consumer groups like Public Citizen have defended the law and are likely to continue to do so.
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me of WA 6:04PM November 04, 2009
ma of WA 9:38PM February 07, 2009
ANDREW of CA 10:17AM February 05, 2009