CPSC Filing Requirements Could Add $18.7 Million Burden on Industry

May 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Proposed changes to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) certificate of compliance requirements could add complexities and significantly alter the way most companies manage their logistics for inbound freight to the U.S., according to the Toy Industry Association (TIA). The changes could more than double compliance costs for children’s product companies—from an approximate $15 million annual spent to comply with current certification requirements to nearly $34 million annually. Comments on the proposal are due to the CPSC by July 29.

Under the amended rule, companies that import regulated finished products manufactured outside of the U.S. would be required to file product certificates electronically with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prior to importation in conjunction with other customs entry documents. Additionally, certifications would have to be identified prominently on the finished product, shipping carton, or invoice with a unique identifier and be accessible online without password protection.

TIA will be submitting comments to the CPSC by the deadline regarding the content requirements of the certificate, the economic impact of the certification rule, the logistics of electronic certification, and more. Members may contact TIA’s Rebecca Mond with any feedback to be included in the submitted comments, or to receive additional information about the rule’s impact. Comments on behalf of individual companies may be submitted directly to the CPSC at www.regulations.gov (docket number CPSC-2013-0017).

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ISO Meetings Explore Toy Safety Guidelines

November 13, 2012 By

Courtesy of the Toy Industry Association

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee on Toy Safety recently held meetings to discuss the development of global age determination guidelines for toys, based largely on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s guidelines from 2002. The meetings, which were held in Tokyo, also discussed magnets, cords, impaction, phthalates, total concentration of certain elements, and the alignment of toy standards.

Technical experts from the U.S.—including representatives from toy manufacturers and importers, testing labs, and the Toy Industry Association (TIA)—and industry and product safety agencies from more than a dozen countries also attended the discussions.

ASTM International held its third annual meeting with ISO to share information and work for further alignment. Issues such as battery and magnet ingestion were discussed. A detailed report from the U.S delegation will be available for viewing on the TIA Website upon completion.

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CPSC Prevents More Than 647,000 Hazardous Toys from Reaching U.S. Consumers

April 25, 2012 By

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that it has prevented more than a half million potentially dangerous imported products from reaching consumers during the first quarter of this year. Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, the two organizations screened more than 2,900 imported shipments at ports of entry in the U.S., preventing more than 240 unique SKUs (in total, 647,000 units) from reaching consumers between October 1-December 31, 2011. Topping the list of products stopped were children’s products containing levels of lead exceeding the federal limits, toys and other articles with small parts that present a choking hazard, and toys and child care articles with banned phthalates.

This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

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North American Safety Commissions Release Statement on Summit

October 26, 2011 By

The first North America Product Safety Summit was held September 26-27 at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) Maryland headquarters. The three main parties, CPSC, Health Canada, and the Consumer Protection Federal Agency of the United Mexican States, released a statement on last month’s event.

The organizations noted the importance of the gathering, explaining the increasing volume of world trade. Other issues that were discussed included the need for trilateral cooperation for product safety, continuous improvement in training and quality assurance systems, enhanced cooperation to solve product safety issues, the promotion of an aligned product safety requirement, and timely and effective communication of product safety information.

The statement ended with a summary of the Summit’s “Cooperative Engagement Framework,” a six-point course of action designed to address issues over the next two years. Attendees vowed to work on cross-border cooperation for regulations and voluntary standards, risk assessment, import and market surveillance, training and outreach, consumer awareness campaigns, and joint recalls or other corrective actions.

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Little Tikes Workshop and Tool Sets Recall Extended to 1.7 Million

September 30, 2011 By

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with MGA’s Little Tikes, has expanded the voluntary recall it issued in August 2009 of Little Tikes Workshop and Tool Sets. Approximately 1.6 million of the sets were recalled in 2009, and the recall has now been extended to 1.7 million.

The recalled workshop and tool sets have oversized, plastic toy nails that can pose a choking hazard to young children. Little Tikes reported two additional incidents, occurring prior to the August 2009 recall, of children who choked when the toy nail became lodged in their throat. Both children were treated in a hospital and made a full recovery. The recalled products were sold nationwide from 1990 to 2004 for $25 to $100.

For model numbers, which may be found on some of the products, click here. Owners of the products should take the toy nails away from young children immediately and contact Little Tikes. For more information, visit at www.littletikes.com

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Recall: Little People Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon

July 29, 2011 By

Fisher-Price, in cooperation with The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, has issued a voluntary recall of the Little People Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon due to a laceration hazard.

The wagon’s handle has a molded-in reinforcement, which adds stiffness and if a child falls on it, it can cause lacerations. CPSC advises consumers to take the recalled toy away from children and contact Fisher-Price for information on how to get a free repair kit.

The recalled wagons have the model number P8977 that can be found on the bottom of the product. The wagons are red with a yellow handle, and include multi-colored plastic blocks and a dog figure. Approximately 208,000 of the wagons were sold in the U.S. and in Canada between June 2009 and July 2011 for around $25.

CPSC and Fisher-Price are aware of seven reports of injuries, including five reports of children requiring surgical glue or stitches. Consumers with incident or injuries reports are asked to contact the CPSC by visiting SaferProducts.gov.

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CPSC to Open Consumer Product Safety Office in China

January 10, 2011 By

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will set up its first office outside the United States in China in an effort to reduce the number of dangerous products reaching the American market.

Commission head Inez Tenenbaum told reporters Monday the office also aims to make it easier for the U.S. to raise concerns with the Chinese government about product safety problems, including toxic metals in toys. Tenenbaum said choosing China as the commissions first overseas location made sense because 45 percent of the consumer products and 90 percent of all toys sold in the United States come from China and Hong Kong.

The CPSC office, to be located within the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, will have two employees to start, an attache and a safety specialist, who will work with their Chinese counterparts and help educate Chinese manufacturers about American product standards, Tenenbaum said.

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CPSC Approves Plan to Publish Consumer Safety Complaints on Website

December 3, 2010 By

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved plans to publish consumer complaints about product safety hazards at www.saferproducts.gov. Beginning in March, the website will collect and post complaints that are sent in by consumers, government agencies, health care professionals, interest groups, and attorneys. Previously, before the passage of CPSIA, federal law required the manufacturer’s consent before information on product-related injuries was released to the public.

Each database entry is expected to include a description of the harm or risk of harm, a description of the product, the manufacturer’s name, the poster’s contact information (which can be kept private), and an affirmation that the complaint is truthful. After the complaint is approved and published, the manufacturer will be forwarded the complaint and will have 10 days to respond to it. If the complaint is proven to be inaccurate, the commission could edit or remove it from the website.

Because public postings can impact a company’s reputation and brand, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) requested that the CPSC take steps to verify that the information is accurate before posting. TIA is also asking that the CPSC beta test the database’s full posting and verification process. The plan was passed with a 3-2 vote.

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CPSC Recalls 96,000 Fisher-Price Toys

August 9, 2010 By

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, in cooperation with Fisher-Price, have issued a voluntary recall of approximately 96,000 Fisher-Price Little People Play ‘n Go Campsite toys. The toys were sold at major retailers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and by online retailers, from October 2009 through August 2010.

Although no injuries have been reported, the plastic Sonya Lee figure in the playset can break at the waist, exposing small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children. The CPSC has received eight reports of the Sonya Lee figure breaking.

Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled products immediately, and to take the Campsite’s Sonya Lee figure away from children. Consumers can contact Fisher-Price at 1-800-432-5437 to arrange for the figure’s return in exchange for a free replacement. For more information, click here.

[Read more...]

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Step2 Recalls 21,000 Toy Drums

May 3, 2010 By

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, in cooperation with The Step2 Company, has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 21,000 of Step2’s Basic Rhythms Drums.

The toy drums pose a potential choking hazard to young children, because the plastic clips used to attach the drumsticks to the drum can break. The drums were set at Toys “R” Us, Burlington Coat Factory, and other retail stores nationwide from August 2009 through this March for between $10 and $15.

The CPSC advises consumers to immediately take the recalled toy from children and contact Step2 to request a replacement toy.

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