ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/foresee/foresee-trigger.js"></script> <title>U.S. CPSC Toy Safety - Children's Products - Third Party Testing</title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" href="/css/business.css" /> </head> <body> <div align="center"> <img class="pic" src="/images/BANNER2.jpg" USEMAP="#BANNER2.jpg" WIDTH=521 HEIGHT=85 ALT="CPSC Banner" border="none"><MAP NAME="BANNER2.jpg"><AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="86,45,183,64" HREF="http://www.cpsc.gov/index.html" ALT="Consumer Safety"><AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="191,45,294,63" HREF="http://www.cpsc.gov/about/about.html" ALT="About CPSC"><AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="301,46,405,63" HREF="http://www.cpsc.gov/library/library.html" ALT="Library - FOIA"><AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="411,45,518,63" HREF="http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/businfo.html" ALT="Business"></MAP> <H2>Third Party Testing</H2> </div> <div id="container"> <hr/> <br/> <div id="main"> <div id="content-home"> <p><b>Certification and Third Party Testing</b></p> <blockquote> <p>All manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of <a href="childrensproduct.html">children's products</a> must certify that their children's products comply with all applicable children's product safety rules. The CPSC has provided a model <a href="/about/cpsia/faq/elecertfaq.pdf">Children's Product Certificate (CPC)</a> (pdf).</p> <p>Written certification for each children's product must be based upon passing test results obtained from the required third party testing at a CPSC accepted laboratory.</p> <p>(<!--<a href="general.html">Different requirements</a>-->Different requirements are in effect for manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of non-children's, or general use, products.)<br> </blockquote> <p><b>What is third party testing?</b></p> <blockquote> <p>Third party testing means testing performed by a third party accredited laboratory that the CPSC has accepted to perform the specific tests for each children's product safety rule. Nearly all children's products are required to undergo third party testing.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>How do I identify the applicable federal consumer product safety laws for my product?</b></p> <blockquote> <p>All children's product safety rules for which testing and certification is required are listed on the CPSC's website with our <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/Default.aspx">List of Accredited Testing Laboratories</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>Where do I locate a CPSC-accepted laboratory?</b></p> <blockquote> <p>CPSC's <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/Default.aspx">List of Accredited Testing Laboratories</a> provides a complete list of (i) children's product safety rules, and (ii) the labs whose accreditation has been accepted by the CPSC to test for compliance with those rules. Suggestions for how to navigate our <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/Default.aspx">List of Accredited Testing Laboratories</a> are included in the FAQ below.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>Where do I learn more?</b></p> <blockquote> <p>This page serves as the primary resource page for all information related to the certification and third party testing for children's products.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>Resources</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="3ptfaq.html">FAQs - Certification and Third Party Testing</a></li> <li>CPSC-accepted <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/Default.aspx">testing laboratories</a></li> <li>Sample children's product certificates (CPC) [<a href="/about/cpsia/faq/elecertfaq.pdf">PDF</a>]</li> <li>Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification, Final Rule, November 8, 2011 [<a href="http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=2d3e61c504cd80da405d84f3e0cb5387;rgn=div2;view=text;node=20111108%3A1.25;idno=16;cc=ecfr;start=1;size=25">HTML</a>] <ul><li>Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification, Final Rule (with complete preamble), November 8, 2011 [<a href="/businfo/frnotices/fr12/certrepr.html">Text</a>] [<a href="/businfo/frnotices/fr12/certrepr.pdf">PDF</a>]</li></ul></li> <li>Conditions and Requirements for Relying on Component Part Testing or Certification, or Another Party's Finished Product Testing or Certification, to Meet Testing and Certification Requirements, Final Rule, CPSC November 8, 2011 [<a href="http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=2d3e61c504cd80da405d84f3e0cb5387;rgn=div2;view=text;node=20111108%3A1.25;idno=16;cc=ecfr;start=1;size=25">HTML</a>] <ul><li>Conditions and Requirements for Relying on Component Part Testing or Certification, or Another Party's Finished Product Testing or Certification, to Meet Testing and Certification Requirements, Final Rule (with complete preamble), , November 8, 2011 [<a href="/businfo/frnotices/fr12/testrelyfinal.html">Text</a>] [<a href="/businfo/frnotices/fr12/testrelyfinal.pdf">PDF</a>]</li></ul></li> </ul> </div> <div class="content-right"> <table bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="250" border="0"> <tr><td align="center" valign="middle"> <table bgcolor="white" width="250" cellpadding="5" border="0"> <tr><td align="left"> <p><b>Do all children's products require certification and testing?</b></p> <p>Generally, yes. While there are some limited exceptions (discussed in the frequently asked questions section), you should begin your analysis with the assumption that your children's product will likely require third party testing for the applicable children's product safety rules.</p> </td></tr> </table> </td></tr> </table> <br/> <br/> <table bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="250" border="0"> <tr><td align="center" valign="middle"> <table bgcolor="white" width="250" cellpadding="5" border="0"> <tr><td align="left"> <p><b>You always have a legal duty to report substantial hazards to health and safety to the CPSC.</b></p> <p>Even if your product is third party tested and complies with the applicable consumer product safety rules for your product, substantial health or safety hazards could occur once the product is sold. All manufacturers, importers, private labelers, distributors, and retailers <b>always</b> have a legal obligation to report a product to the CPSC if there is evidence that the product may be causing a substantial hazard for consumers' health and safety. Reports from businesses help the CPSC investigate and ensure that American consumers are protected. You can learn more and report <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSpublic/Section15/">here</a>. Failure to report a product when you are in possession of information that suggests a substantial hazard may subject a company to substantial civil and/or criminal penalties.</p> </td></tr> </table> </td></tr> </table> <br/> <br/> <table bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="250" border="0"> <tr><td align="center" valign="middle"> <table bgcolor="white" width="250" cellpadding="5" border="0"> <tr><td align="left"> <p><b>Further questions</b></p> <p>Please see our list of frequently asked questions below. You may also wish to consult our <a href="/sbo">Small Business Ombudsman</a> if you have further questions.</p> </td></tr> </table> </td></tr> </table> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <hr width="90%"> <blockquote> <i>This communication has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is based upon the facts and information presented. This communication does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice and has not been reviewed or approved by the Commission, and does not necessarily represent its views. Any views expressed in this communication may be changed or superseded by the Commission.</i> </blockquote> <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/index.html">Consumer Safety (Home)</a> | <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/about/about.html">About CPSC</a> | <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/library/library.html">Library</a> | <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/businfo.html">Business</a> </div> </div> </body> </html>