Labels, is this what we need?

[Former_Member]

My shop is in a serious need to meet all CPSIA and FTC standards. I need help getting there. I've done some research, but my brain hurts. Is this what I need in terms of labels?

CPSIA LABEL:
1.Manufacturer (business name)
2.Location (i.e. Santa Barbara, CA. USA)
3.contact (i.e. etsy address)
4.ITEM Tracking number (i.e. 1- all fabric doll, 2- doll w/ pretested buttons, 3-etc.)
5.DOM (DATE of Manufacture)

FTC LABEL:
1.name (no need to repeat in combo with CPSIA label)
2.fiber disclosure (by %)
3.country (for each material%)
4.care instructions (i.e. surface wash only)
5. any cautionary warnings (i.e. CAUTION! CHOKING HAZARD. Contains small parts. Not suitable for children under the age of three.


Does this look right? I make dolls which haven't been for children, but with all this CSPIA/FTC stuff I have to abide b/c they may appeal to children. Plus I love kids, so I want to start making items that are suitable for kids.

Also, if I use a permanent ink pen to mark the DOM, how do I know that it's safe and keeps with the CPSIA standards?

[Former_Member]

CPSIA LABEL: required on all children under 13 products regardless of what the product is
1.Manufacturer (business name)- REQUIRED
2.Location (i.e. Santa Barbara, CA. USA) - REQUIRED
3.contact (i.e. etsy address) - optional
4.ITEM Tracking number (i.e. 1- all fabric doll, 2- doll w/ pretested buttons, 3-etc.) - optional for small-batch manufacturers but REQUIRED for large batch manufactueres & it must be a # unique to that specific to each batch and each date of batches. A batch is a group of the same items made with the same lot or dye batch of identical raw materials, so if 20 fabric dolls are made from 1 bolt of material and have exactly the same embellishments with different placements on the same day those 20 dolls are considered 1 batch. Now if the same 20 dolls are made from the 1 bolt but with entirely different embellishments are used on each then you have 20 seperate batches even if they are made the same day.
5.DOM (DATE of Manufacture) - REQUIRED

FTC LABEL: required on most fabric items regardless of the age of the user.
1.name (no need to repeat in combo with CPSIA label) - REQUIRED there is no offical notice if the 2 seperate agencies labels can be legally combined
2.fiber disclosure (by %) - REQUIRED
3.country (for each material%) - REQUIRED
4.care instructions (i.e. surface wash only) - REQUIRED
5. any cautionary warnings (i.e. CAUTION! CHOKING HAZARD. Contains small parts. Not suitable for children under the age of three. - if needed but not on the FTC label it must be seperate. The warning label must be done in the legal format, font, & colors with government approved warning symbolism the ! inside a triangle & must be visable at a quick glance.

Also, if I use a permanent ink pen to mark the DOM, how do I know that it's safe and keeps with the CPSIA standards?
For now if you can get the GCC or COC stating the lead levels for the ink is, then writing the DOM in until Feb 10th 2010 is allowed. Also you would need a GCC or COC for the preprinted portion of the label as well. After that unless they add permanent ink to the exemption list, like they have with CMYK ink jet printer inks, then the whole item will need to goto testing just because of the inks on the label.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for all your input! Extremely valuable!

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Since you make stuffed toys, also check with your state if you need to have certification for stuffed toys. Some states, Oh and Pa are two that come to mind, that you must send the toys to a state testing lab, where they do pull, twist tests to be sure that the item won't come apart.

FTC/content and fiber labels can be ordered from labeling manufacturers. North West tag is where I get mine, totally woven, totally correct, and packages of 50 if I remember. Quick to ship.

[Former_Member]

FayeMD, where can I find the certification requirements for my state, if there are any? (california) Not great at searching on the web. Not sure what keywords to plug in.

[Former_Member]

Here's a sample of what mine looks like if you want an idea (it's at the bottom of the post):
http://smartbottomenterprises.blogspot.com/2009/11/fancying-it-up-green-style.html

[Former_Member]

good to know thanks

[Former_Member]

Here's examples in sans color of what the small parts warning need to look like. See page 20 of this PDF http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/FOIA08/brief/toygameads.pdf . You will need to double check what colors need to go on the type set and for the symbol.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Try going to the California Business Portal. Or the California Secretary of State's site.

[MeowWow]

SmartBottomKids, I like your labels. I notice they are stickers, which is nice. I guess I thought they had to be fabric labels and sewn on.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Fabric labels would be inappropriate on her craft kits, her stickers are acceptable. Where would she sew them on?

[Former_Member]

I am just getting into all of this and I sew children's clothes. Silly question, but can I use a removable paper tag on my clothes with this information or does it have to be permanently affixed (sewn into) my garments?

[Former_Member]

Both the FTC and CSPIA tags need to be permanantly attached. If needed the CPSC small parts warning can be detachable as long as it highly visable before the consumer removes it.

[Former_Member]

marking

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

If you item is a garment or made from fabric/fiber, then you must sew the tags on. Both the CPSIA labels and the FTC labels if your product is supposed to have FTC labels. If your product is exempt from FTC labels, but on you hangtag, or your description you talk about the fiber content, and washing instructions you now must tag it with the proper FTC tags.

If your item like a hair bow, or a bootie is too small to have a sewn in tag, then you may use a sticker on you hangtag or packaging with all the needed info.

[Former_Member]

Okay I am just getting so confused on all of this. So if we make Children's items no matter what they are, they have to have the 2 tags? I didn't even realize this was happening until a friend told me about it.

And as far as the fabric contents go say I have a 100% cotton Onesie with a cotton applique and ribbon, would I have to give the fabric content for the ribbon too??? Just want to make sure I get this all correct.

Just checked out that Nwtag.com and they look pretty reasonable, but two labels that is craziness. Oh and for the Date of Manufacturer, can we just do month and year, that could get extremeley expensive having them printed with exact dates. Any suggestions?

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

*to the OP*

uh, not to rain on your parade, but if any of your stuffed toys could be used as or considered as pillows (I can't see your offerings as your shop is in vacation mode at the time I am posting this), as a seller based in California, you need to meet Cal State Bureau of Home Furnishings flammability testing requirements.

[sheilascrafts43]

wow thats alot of info for just a label.

[Former_Member]

@kenzienoelle - the date is for you to be able to differentiate batches for purposes of a recall if necessary. so if you do two batches on one day then you might want to label as 112409a and 112409b. But if you only do one batch of a particular item in one month than probably just 1109 is ok.

as i understand, it's not so much putting the date like when you sign and date a legal document, it's meant to be the tracking information for your recordkeeping in case there is ever some defect that is batch specific and you are ordered (or opt) to do a recall. Then you tell the consumers to look on the tag for this particular number: 112409a or 1109 or whatever you coded your cohort information with.

[Former_Member]

Marking

[Former_Member]

I am from the UK using only yarm buttons and ribbon this seems a bit extreme to me since I make one design at a time and only when it sells do I replace it. I don't know where to start or even where to get any testing done. As I normally only buy the buttons I need to finish one garment at a time Help!!!!

[Former_Member]

nice post...marking!

[millcreekcottages]

marking

[Former_Member]

<3