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CPSC Extends Stay of Enforcement for Testing and Certification of Lead Content in Children’s Products Until December 31, 2011

Release Date: February 02, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 4-1 on January 31, 2011 to extend the stay of enforcement for testing and certification of lead content in children's products (except for metal components of children's metal jewelry) until December 31, 2011.

Starting on December 31, 2011, manufacturers and importers of children’s products that are subject to the lead content limit must have the appropriate certificates that indicate that their products have been tested by a CPSC-approved third party laboratory, in order for their products to be sold in the United States.

Despite the stay of enforcement on testing and certification, manufacturers, importers and retailers of children’s products must continue to comply with the federal restrictions for total lead content. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) requires that all children’s products have no more than 300 parts per million (ppm) of lead content. The lead content limit will drop to 100 ppm on August 14, 2011, unless CPSC determines that it is not technologically feasible to establish this lower limit for a product or product category. The CPSIA also establishes a limit of 90 ppm for lead in paint and surface coatings.

The stay of enforcement does not apply to the 90 ppm limit on lead in paint and surface coatings or to the current 300 ppm limit on lead content in metal components of children’s jewelry. Certification based on third party testing is currently required for children’s products in these categories.

This action is included the latest update to the listing of CPSIA requirements and stays of enforcement.

CPSC Commissioners' statements regarding the extension of the stay of enforcement for testing and certification of lead content in children’s products (all pdf): Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum, Commissioner Robert S. Adler, and Commissioner Anne M. Northup

Release Number
11-116

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years. 

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