TOY SAFETY (2009)
A few customers have expressed concern with regard to Toy Safety and the new CPSC regulations. Attached is a link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website and their most current report about Toy Safety, also a link to the new CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act). I was happy to see the extremely small amount of injuries and fatalities which were related directly to the use of toys. Bicycle accidents and small objects, which are a choking hazard and can cause airway obstruction, are still the primary concern for younger children.
The new legislation which was passed in November 2008 provides stricter controls and regulations on the manufacturing of toys and items intended for use by children 12 years of age or younger. The primary concern is the percentage of lead used in toys and jewelry (currently 600 ppm) and the use of phthalates in plastic toys. The level of Phthalates has never been tested in the past, but will be required in levels of 1000 ppm or less in all toys and items intended for children 12 years of age or younger, manufactured and imported into the USA starting in February 2009. The use of this chemical is especially problematic for small children who tend to explore their world by putting objects in their mouth. Under the new guidelines manufacturers are required to provide testing by an independent 3rd party, and must also provide certification that all items conform to these new CPSC standards. A grandfather clause was put into effect which excludes any items that were imported and distributed before 2/1/09.
We have been, and will continue to work closely with our manufacturers to ensure that the toys we are supplying you with adhere to the required standards and that certification is available for all items. Ultimately this means that many standard items may not be available for a period of time, however most will be reworked using different chemicals and unfortunately you will probably continue to see slightly higher prices to offset the cost of the additional testing.
Most of you are probably still wondering what Phthalates are? I recently read a magazine article which indicated that Phthalates can be found in many everyday items such as; shampoo, deodorants, perfume, nail polish, extension cords, shower curtains, toothpaste, wallpaper, blinds, plastic containers, food wraps, flooring, lawn furniture and garden hoses. Because these items are not manufactured for use by small children, testing is not required and their chemical makeup will most likely remain the same.
To obtain some perspective on all of this, according to the National Highway Safety Board (NHSB), motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of unintentional injury-related death among children under 15 years of age. And sadly there are still close to 3 million children that are the victims of abuse or neglect in this country, according to the Child Welfare League of America approximately 3 children die everyday from some form of abuse or maltreatment. There have been no reported deaths from exposure to phthalates, there was one death related to lead poisoning in 2006 when a 4 year old boy ingested a charm from an inexpensive bracelet that was used as a free promotion.
Click the following links to be directed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website & View the Toy Related Deaths and Injuries Calendar for 2007.
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