February 12, 2009 "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting on February 10, 2009,
children’s toys and child care articles cannot contain more that 0.1% of six
phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DnOPA) regardless of when they were
manufactured. The CPSC will abide by a court decision (pdf)
issued yesterday ruling that the prohibition on phthalates in the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 applies to products in inventory.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals (oily, colorless liquids) that are used
among other things to make vinyl and other plastics soft and flexible.
A “children’s toy” is
defined in the statute as a product intended for a child 12 years of age or
younger for use when playing. The Commission has previously stated that it will
follow the definition of toy in the mandatory toy standard which exempts such
things as bikes, playground equipment, musical instruments, and sporting goods
(except for their toy counterparts).
The statute also prohibits
phthalates over the limit in “child care articles,” which include products that
a child 3 and younger would use for sleeping, feeding, sucking or teething. By
way of example, a pacifier/teether would be an item that would help a child
with sucking or teething; a sippy cup would facilitate feeding; and a crib
mattress would facilitate sleeping.
Companies must meet their
reporting obligation under federal law and immediately tell the Commission if
they learn of a children’s toy or child care article that exceeds the new
phthalates limits starting on February 10, 2009. Companies also should know
that the CPSIA generally prohibits the export for sale of children’s products
that exceed the new phthalates limits." - U.S. Product Safety Commission
Source: www.cpsc.gov.
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