NEWS

US CPSC Published Final Guidance on Inaccessible Component Parts for Phthalates

On February 14, 2013, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published the final guidance on Children’s toys and child care articles: Phthalate-containing inaccessible component parts. Section 108 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act shall not apply to any component part of a children’s toy or child care article that is not accessible to a child through normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse of such product, as determined by the Commission.

The Commission adopts the same guidance with respect to inaccessibility for phthalates that was adopted by the Commission with regard to inaccessibility of lead. Paint, coatings, and electroplating may not be considered a barrier that would render phthalate-containing component parts of toys and child care articles inaccessible.

A children’s toy or child care article that is or contains a phthalate-containing part that is enclosed, encased, or covered by fabric and passes the appropriate use and abuse tests on such covers, is considered inaccessible to a child, unless the product or part of the product, in one dimension, is smaller than 5 centimeters. However, vinyl (or other plasticized material) covered mattresses/sleep surfaces that contain phthalates that are designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep of children age 3 and younger, are considered accessible and would not be considered inaccessible through the use of fabric coverings, including sheets and mattress pads.

Detail information, please refer:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-14/pdf/2013-03400.pdf