I am so lost

[Former_Member]

I had no idea about the CPSIA until someone just e-mailed me asking how I was in compliance. I am a bit late, but want to do the right thing. I just have a hobby business, small batch products for infants including wood teething toys which is either just a sanded piece of maple or cherry wood or with a natural FDA approved mineral oil. I also make some little wooden push toys for kids over the age of 3 made of oak, non toxic acrylic paint and kid safe shellac.

How do I go about testing? How much does it cost? I am afraid it will make it to expensive for me to continue with my hobbY :(

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Former_Member]

I have put my shop in vacation mode for the time being until I can get this resolved, although I am afraid that will mean missing the holiday season.

[Former_Member]

Again, any advice as to the fastest way to have my products tested and being in compliance would be greatly appreciated.

[TurkandBean]

If you haven't already make sure you are registered with saferproducts.gov Thisis the official federal small batch registration.

Your wooden items should be okay since natural untreated wood is generally exempt. "For example, testing for lead content in materials such as pure wood, nearly all textiles, certain precious metals and gemstones, and pure (100%) animal and vegetable derived materials is not required." I leave them unvarnished or use beeswax/food grade oils to stay in compliance. You may need testing or a GCC for your shellac.

Your paints will need testing or a GCC as well. There is testing site info on the CPSC site here: http://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Testing-Certification/Third-Party-Testing/ But ideally your supplier will have certificates for you showing they're tested and safe. The ASTM/MSDS certificates are not the same as the CPSIA testing certificates.

[Former_Member]

Good news about the teething toys. I have been doing a little research. Do I have to have a tag that is permanently attached to the toys as well? I generally send a care and maintenance sheet, but I don't think that is enough any more.

For the push toys, if I can get certificates from the makers of the paint and shellac is that all I need to do. These are generally for kids over the age of 3 since a broken piece could potentially be a choke hazard.

Thanks again for the help.

[TurkandBean]

It's kinda hard to attach a tag to a wood toy including it with the packaging should be fine, unless you maybe woodburn/engrave the back. You will need to include the proper labeling info, DOM, name, materials, etc, but a sticker or similar would seem reasonable.

Yes, you don't have to do testing it your materials have certificates that they have been tested. The key with paints etc is that most aren't intended for kids' use, so most manufacturers aren't testing. They have MSDS testing which tests for use and exposure in it's liquid paint form for use, but it's not the same as the dried form post product testing.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for your help. It is quite a relief.

Dayle