CPSIA tracking labels are required on all items considered primarily for children 13 & under made after Aug 13th 2009. This is so if there is ever a report made to the government about a product that it can be tracked back to the person that made it.
For a crafter the CPSIA tracking label must include at minimum :
* Your company's or shop name, or RN# (not required on the label if able to find it elsewhere permanantly on the product like on a FTC care and content label)
* The city, state/territory, & country where the item was completed
* If different from where made an address or website so a consumer can contact the manufacturer / designer (do not include a phone number unless you want anyone that sees your label to call you)
* At least the month with year of manufacture or date of completion of the product
* If you make repeats of the designs then you may also need a batch number, but only if the pieces are mostly identical looking and made of the same looking raw materials as each other.
Interpeted from
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103policy.pdf So a CPSIA tracking label for my jewelry would go something like this:
Designs by ME
Toms River, NJ, USA
http: // www.etsy.com/shop/jewelrydesignsbyME
12/2010
The CPSC has other regulations for warning label that may be needed depending on what the specific products is. These warnings may be about age specific use, do not leave unattended, do not use while sleeping, etc. Sometimes the wording of the labels can be found at
http://www.cpsc.gov , but you have to search through recall notices and other articles about the product type before you can find the actual regulation. If you can't find the info at the government website what you can do is check what types of warnings that are on similar items sold at mass market retailers.
So a CPSC warning label for my adult jewelry would go something like this:
THIS IS NOT A TOY. This item is not intended for use by children under 13.
FTC care and content labels have required on most fiber or fabric based products since the 1970s, regardless of what age the product is intended for use by. The labels need to be on a whole host of products not just clothing, there is a list The FTC label needs at the very least:
- Your company, shop name, or RN# (yes it a duplicate of the CPSIA info)
- Fiber content by %
- Fiber country of origin
- Washing and care instructions
Other info may be required depending on the exact fabrics use like registered trademark info for fabrics that are followed by a ® or the international symbols for care instructions.
Interpeted from
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm#covered &
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus50.shtm#Complying An example label of my mom's crochet sofa blankets would read like this:
Made by Karen
90 % PRIMA® Cotton, USA
10 % cotton, Mexico
Exclusive of trim or decorations
Wash on gentle cycle in cold water.
Non-phosphoric detregent. NO bleach.
Tumble alone on low setting or dry flat
Special labeling instructions for items that contain any amount of wool can be found here The Textile and Wool Acts gateway page
http://business.ftc.gov/selected-industries/clothing-and-textilesKeep in mind some states now require products to contain any number of "Health Warnings" if you do not have specific proof that a product does not contain any number of known substances that have been linked to any ailment.
