From: Subject: CPSC Issues Guidance For Complying With Phthalates Requirements In New Child Safety Law Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:26:30 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C98BA4.B6166C30" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C98BA4.B6166C30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09121.html CPSC Issues Guidance For Complying With Phthalates = Requirements In New Child Safety Law

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, = 2009
Release=20 #09-121

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media = Contact: (301)=20 504-7908


CPSC Issues Guidance For Complying With Phthalates Requirements In = New Child=20 Safety Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting on February 10, 2009, children=92s toys = and child=20 care articles cannot contain more that 0.1% of six phthalates (DEHP, = DBP, BBP,=20 DINP, DIDP, and DnOP) regardless of when they were manufactured. The = CPSC will=20 abide by a court=20 decision (pdf) issued yesterday ruling that the prohibition on = phthalates in=20 the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 applies to products = in=20 inventory. Phthalates are a group of chemicals (oily, colorless liquids) = that=20 are used among other things to make vinyl and other plastics soft and = flexible.=20

A =93children=92s toy=94 is defined in the statute as a product = intended for a=20 child 12 years of age or younger for use when playing. The Commission = has=20 previously stated that it will follow the definition of toy in the = mandatory toy=20 standard which exempts such things as bikes, playground equipment, = musical=20 instruments, and sporting goods (except for their toy counterparts). =

The statute also prohibits phthalates over the limit in =93child care = articles,=94 which include products that a child 3 and younger would use = for=20 sleeping, feeding, sucking or teething. By way of example, a = pacifier/teether=20 would be an item that would help a child with sucking or teething; a = sippy cup=20 would facilitate feeding; and a crib mattress would facilitate sleeping. =

Companies must meet their reporting obligation under federal law and=20 immediately tell the Commission if they learn of a children=92s toy or = child care=20 article that exceeds the new phthalates limits starting on February 10, = 2009.=20 Companies also should know that the CPSIA generally prohibits the export = for=20 sale of children=92s products that exceed the new phthalates limits. =

The agency will be issuing further guidance information next week. =

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Send the link for this page to a friend! = The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting = the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from = thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. = The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from = products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. = The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as = toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - = contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and = injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 = years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, = call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) = 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To = join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist= .aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at = CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. =

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