CPSC News Concerning Flammable Fabrics Testing

Steve Kahane, President of International Coatings

Steve Kahane, President of International Coatings received an update this week regarding news from the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the following issue:

 It appears that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is moving closer to lifting the stay of enforcement on testing and certification of children’s articles for flammability.  On July 29, 2010, the CPSC posted two draft Federal Register notices on its website regarding the accreditation requirements for third party assessment bodies for the testing of children’s clothing textiles (except children’s sleepwear) and for children’s mattresses, mattress pads and/or mattress sets under the Flammable Fabrics Act.   Once these notices are finalized and published in the Federal Register, the stay will be lifted.  With regard to children’s clothing textiles, 16 CFR 1610.1(d) exempts certain textiles from testing. The draft notice confirms that manufacturers/importers do not need to submit exempt clothing textiles for testing in order to confirm that the exemption applies.  In addition, with regard to non-exempt children’s clothing textiles which must be tested, manufacturers/importers may submit a product for third party testing at either the pre-or post-garment stage of production. There is still no new word on the accreditation of third party labs for phthalate testing.   Until the CPSC makes that determination, the stay of enforcement on testing and certification of children’s toys and child care articles for phthalates remains in place.  The stay of enforcement on lead testing and certification is not due to expire until early 2011. For more information regarding the subject, you can go to the CPSC site directly at www.cpsc.gov or click on this link:  http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia10/brief/textiles.pdf. For more on International Coatings products, visit our website at www.iccink.com.  For more regarding Phthalates and the new CPSCIA regulations, go to our Phthalate info page at:  https://iccink.com/phthalates.htm.