CPSC Children's Textile, Mattress, ATV, Durable Infant Product Rules Take Effect in Nov & Dec
Pursuant to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the following Consumer Product Safety Commission children’s product requirements take effect in November and December 2010.
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Flammability Testing/Certification for Kids’ Textiles & Mattresses Made after Nov 16
Children’s clothing textiles manufactured after November 16, 2010 must be tested by a CSPC-accredited third-party lab (which can include governmental or firewalled company labs1) and certified for compliance with the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles (16 CFR Part 1610).2
Likewise, children’s mattresses, mattress pads, and/or mattress sets manufactured after November 16, 2010 must be tested by a CSPC-accredited third-party lab (which can include governmental or firewalled company labs) for compliance with the Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads (16 CFR parts 1632) and/or the Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets (16 CFR Part 1633).2 (See ITT’s Online Archives or 11/04/10 news, 10110415, for most recent BP reminder on these requirements.)
Testing/Certification Needed for Youth ATVs Manufactured after Nov 26
Youth ATVs manufactured after November 26, 2010 must be tested by a CPSC accredited third-party lab (which can include governmental or firewalled company labs) and certified for compliance with 16 CFR Part 1420 based on that testing.2 However, testing and certification for lead content of youth ATVs is stayed at least until May 1, 2011. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/30/10 news, 10083015, for BP summary of the ATV lab requirements which lifted the stay.)
Infant Bath Seat Standard Takes Effect for Imports/Manufactures on/after Dec 6
The new mandatory standard for infant bath seats, which is required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), takes effect for infant bath seats manufactured or imported on or after December 6, 2010.
The new standard incorporates by reference the requirements for bath seats in ASTM F 1967-08a “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Seats,” with certain modifications. These modifications include: revising the definition of bath seat; doubling the size of the warning label; limiting the allowable tilt angle of the bath seat during stability testing; and certain other testing changes. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/04/10, 06/15/10, 08/19/10 news, 10060427, 10061517 and 10081925, for BP summaries of the bath seat final rule and CPSC corrections.)
Infant Walker Standard Takes Effect for Imports/Manufactures on/after Dec 21
The new mandatory standard for infant walkers, which is required by the CPSIA, takes effect for infant walkers manufactured or imported on or after December 21, 2010.
The new standard incorporates by reference the requirements for infant walkers in ASTM F 977-07, “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers,” but with certain modifications to strengthen the standard. These modifications include: revisions to the step test procedure; adding the European parking brake test; and adding and revising certain warnings. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/21/10 and 08/19/10 news, 10062165 and 10081924, for BP summaries of the infant walker final rule and CPSC corrections.)
Consumer Registration Cards Needed with 6 Infant Products on/after Dec 29
Consumer product registration cards will have to be included with 6 additional durable infant and toddler products starting December 29, 2010. This means that manufacturers (or importers) of children’s folding chairs, changing tables, infant bouncers, infant bath tubs, bed rails, and infant slings that are manufactured on or after December 29, 2010 will have to provide a postage-paid consumer registration form with each such product and meet certain recordkeeping and labeling requirements.
The consumer registration requirements have been in effect for 12 durable infant and toddler products (cribs, walkers, swings, strollers, etc.) since June 2010. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/29/09 news, 09122915, for BP summary of these requirements.)
1Firewalled labs (owned, managed or controlled by a manufacturer or private labeler) and governmental labs (owned or controlled in whole or in part by a government, including foreign) may also be accredited as third-party test labs, provided they meet all the CPSC requirements for third-party accreditation as well as certain additional requirements related to impartiality and undue influence from the manufacturer or government.
2The CPSIA states that manufacturers (which includes importers) and private labelers must issue Children’s Product Certificates based on testing by a third-party lab, but CPSC has interpreted the testing and certification requirements as affecting domestic manufacturers (in the case of domestic products) and importers (in the case of imported products).