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Candles Business Guidance

Metal-cored candlewicks and candles that use such wicks must not contain lead in the metal core in excess of 0.06% by weight per 16 CFR § 1500.17(a)(13). This requirement applies to products manufactured or imported on or after October 15, 2003.

Candles that contain a hazardous substance as defined under the FHSA must bear cautionary labeling. For more information, visit our FHSA cautionary labeling business guidance page.

There are also several industry consensus standards (also known as voluntary standards) for candles:

  • ASTM F1972 – Standard Guide for Terminology Relating to Candles and Associated Accessory Items
  • ASTM F2058 – Standard Specification for Candle Fire Safety Labeling
  • ASTM F2179 – Standard Specification for Annealed Soda-Lime-Silicate Glass Containers That Are Produced for Use as Candle Containers
  • ASTM F2326 – Standard Test Method for Collection and Analysis of Visible Emissions from Candles as They Burn
  • ASTM F2417 – Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candles
  • ASTM F2601 – Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candle Accessories

Labeling

Bulk shipments of metal-cored candlewicks and candles that use such wicks must have the statement “Conforms to 16 CFR 1500.17(a)(13)” on the shipping package or outer wrapping as it’s shipped to retailers. The label does not need to be on the retail packaging itself.

Certification

Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) requires manufacturers and importers of consumer products subject to a regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC to certify that those products meet the requirements of the standard by issuing a General Certificate of Compliance (GCC) for general-use products. For metal-cored candlewicks and candles using such wicks, the citation to use in section 2 of the GCC is “16 CFR § 1500.17(a)(13) – Metal-cored candlewicks”. For more information, visit our GCC business guidance page.

There is no certification requirement for candlewicks that use nonmetal cores or candles that use nonmetal-cored wicks.

Additional Information

Contact

For more information, please contact the Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) team:

Report an unsafe product