CPSC Lead Content Guidelines Take Effect Aug. 14

Next month, manufacturers, importers and distributors of children’s products must comply with a new 100 parts per million federal limit for total lead content in toys for children 12 and under, according to new guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The limit will go into effect Aug. 14, despite unsuccessful attempts to postpone the limit by some manufacturers, which argued that a reduction of lead to 100 ppm is not practical from a technical standpoint. The CPSC said the new lead content limit does not apply to inaccessible (internal) parts of children’s products and certain components of children’s electronic devices, such as connectors and plugs (including those in headphones).