Legislation Eases Compliance Burden on Lead in Juvenile Products

The House and Senate approved legislation last week that would ease the burden of complying with new lead standards for juvenile products, and President Obama is likely to sign it into law, according to a House press release. In an important ruling for small businesses, the legislation allows that new lead limits of 100 parts per million, scheduled to go into effect Aug. 14, would only apply to products manufactured after the effective date of rule—meaning children’s products that met the earlier 300 part per million standard when they were manufactured may still be sold. The new legislation also removes lead standards for used children’s products, and includes categorical exclusions or alternative requirements for all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, bicycles and printed materials.