Screenprinting ink that's CPSIA compliant

[Former_Member]

Hi, new to this and researching what supplies to buy to stay CPSIA compliant. I think I've found my blank tshirts, but what ink to use for the screenprinting. Do any of you tshirt people know of a CPSIA compliant water based screenprinting ink? TIA!

[Former_Member]

Don't know if anybody's interested in this, but I found this company: http://www.onestrokeinks.com/lead_compliance.html
awesome that they are CPSIA compliant. I just am not sure if I do my screenprinting at home, will this ink work with an EZPhoto or StencilPro or a similar at home set up? Maybe that's a question for another thread...

[Former_Member]

This is probably the closest I've seen to what the CPSIA wants for component testing. All that's missing is what colors where tested (or links to the tests reports for the tints) and which lot #'s where tested.
Remember the CPSIA considers screen print media to be the same as paint so it does need to be under 100 PPM now if it's on a child's product, and is not covered by the stay of testing. So a once a year test may not be usable for your final product's GCC the test results do need to match the tint and lot #s of the products you purchase.

[Former_Member]

jewelrydesignsbyme, I found that with those big companies as far as I could tell I can't order the tiny amounts I needed, so finally I found that provocraft (the yudu people) have a COC for their inks, but with what you're saying is required it seems kind of lacking (here it is: http://www.provocraft.com/company/legal/bin/inks.pdf)
In the end I'm just starting to think I've done my good faith research and if I just go ahead and use these two companies (one for my blanks and one for my ink) that have COCs, am I REALLY going to be up a river if I don't personally test? It just seems sooooo crazy. Would love your feedback on this. TIA

[JL67]

marking :)

[Former_Member]

earthboundbaby, unfortunately there is no good faith research in regards to final products that were excluded from the stay of testing; it's either test, get the right test results, or don't sell it as a child's item.
"Component Testing Adds Flexibility to Compliance

Significant to domestic manufacturers, crafters and U.S. importers, the Commission has also voted unanimously (5-0) to adopt an interim enforcement policy allowing component part testing. Under this policy, domestic manufacturers and importers now have a choice in certifying their products. As before, they can send samples of the entire children’s product out for independent third party testing. Now they can certify their products as meeting lead paint and lead content limits in the following ways:

Lead in Paint
Have test reports from recognized independent third party testing labs showing that each paint on the product complies with the 90 ppm lead paint limit.
OR

Have certificates from paint suppliers declaring that all their paint on the product complies with the 90 ppm lead limit based on testing by recognized independent third party testing laboratories.
Lead content

Have test reports from recognized independent third-party testing labs showing that each of the accessible component parts on the product complies with the 300 ppm lead limit.
OR

Have certificates from part suppliers declaring that all accessible component parts on the product comply with the 300 ppm lead limit based on testing by recognized independent third party testing laboratories.
Most fasteners, such as buttons, zippers, and screws, sold by themselves are not considered children’s products and would not have to comply with the lead limits or be certified. However, the same fasteners must meet the lead limits if they are used on a children’s product. Voluntary certification by suppliers of component parts would make them more beneficial to manufacturers who use them in children’s products.

Any person who issues a false certificate is subject to penalties.

CPSC is working to provide manufacturers and importers with clarity on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and their responsibilities to comply with the law. The agency intends to implement the law in a firm but fair manner in order to build consumer confidence, keep children safe and keep businesses open and competitive.

While the stay of enforcement remains in effect for the certification and testing requirements for certain products, all products must comply with the safety standards and bans of the law, including the limits for lead content, lead paint, the ban on certain phthalates and the ASTM F-963 mandatory toy standard." excerpt from http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10083.html . What they mean by "recognized independent third-party testing labs" is labs they have aready certified, a list of which can be found here http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labapplist.aspx . Regardless of if the manufacturer of the non-exempt raw materials gives you the test results or if you pay a lab directly for the test certificates you must still have all the information in your possession to be able to fill out your own GCCs for each single item or batch of identical items you complete, see here http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/elecertfaq.pdf for what needs to be included on a GCC.


When dealing with something the government feels is a type of paint, you have to be extra vigilant. If the small companies and crafters that use paint & pigments on their children's product or those that make and market jewelry for child or other items that are not included in the stay of testing, these areas are the ones the government is going to scrutinize first and foremost in regards to the new component testing allowances because they are not covered by the stay of testing. So basically if these required to be tested product producers mess up now they CPSC may shut down the use of component testing in the future for all children's products.

[Former_Member]

thanks for your response! hmmm. I'm only planning to use black and maybe white inks, so perhaps I could contact provocraft and get the complete information I need for just those inks and that would make me compliant...does that sound about right? That sounds handle-able....maybe I'll look into that tomorrow when my brain is not mush. thank you so much for all the time you have spent on here lining things out for me and everybody else!

[Former_Member]

so today I checked the UPC codes on the product numbers provided in provocraft's COC, and naturally the UPC codes for the black and white inks I need are not included in the range on their certificate. Sigh. So I emailed them saying I needed specific test result numbers and asking why those UPC codes don't match. I dont know, could it be a different batch or something? I don't know how often UPC codes change. Then I contacted cricutdirect, where I can purchase the ink, and asked them what the UPC codes are on the black and white inks they are selling - maybe they have the batch that was covered? Bigger sigh. So we'll see if anybody gets back to me. Any kids clothes screenprinters out there who have already been through this? Can you give me some advice? How are you making sure you're compliant? JewelrydesignsbyME, am I on the right track here from your perspective. I'm a little overwhelmed right now as I'm working 70 hrs a week at my real job too so its hard to keep my mind on track :-)

[Former_Member]

OK I lied, their COC does match the UPC on their smaller black ink, just not the larger 12 oz bottle.

[WeBlingItOnBoutique]

I believe that Procraft has been compliant since March of last year. There was a rep that posted in a thread about it I recall. I also screen and most of the paints in my state are compliant because of the state laws. It put a end to lead in pain quite a long time ago.

[Former_Member]

weesewcute, I know that is the thing that's getting me. I believe they are compliant too, they even have a COC posted on their website...but at first I didn't think the product that I needed was specified on their website - but they are, at least the small sizes. Cricut, where I would order the yudu ink from, they got back to me yesterday and both the inks I need are included on the COC, so that is good, but I think I also need the specific lead test result, to prove it's under the 90ppm. I'm thinking I could probably contact the testing facility on their COC and get that. So I'm actually pretty happy now - I went ahead and ordered the ink yesterday. Its just a lot of hoops I guess I need to jump through to prove something that the company has already proved, but better safe than sorry. I really hope I can sell at least a tshirt here and there once I get going to make me feel better about all this work! But I have to admit, even this is more fun than my day job! :-)

[WeBlingItOnBoutique]

I sell more Onesies at shows then on here. Of course I am pretty new to Etsy though. They are fun to make. Also Procraft has reps that cruise the boards every now and then that will answer your questions. If you call they are also super helpful. I got what I needed sent to me in a email when I called. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Need to mark this one for future reference. :0)

[Former_Member]

marking for future!

[Former_Member]

look for a yudu CPSIA thread, I think someone said the ink had lead...

[Former_Member]

here's the yudu forum, I didn't read it all
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6061381
maybe later pages say inks don't have lead

[Former_Member]

marking for later.

[graphicspaces]

I'm using the Yudu black and white screen inks as well in some new products. I need to follow the same path as earthboundbaby because I didn't realize I needed to go beyond the COC posted on their website. Hmmm.... more work ahead! Thanks for all the info everybody!

[Former_Member]

Our company switched over to Claira by Rutland to be compliant. I dont know what your volume is but if you have a screenprinting supply distributor like Naz Dar near you, then you can probably ask them what their smallest size is.

[Former_Member]

Oh - and I think Wilflex carries a compliant line called EPIC or something...

[PunkeyMonkey]

Try www.dharmatrading.com too, they have a page for the whole safety thing, and what inks are lead free, etc.

[Former_Member]

PunkeyMonkey,
Be careful they are relying solely on the MSDS reports for their product. In general MSDS only report on "hazardous substances" that are absorbed through inhalation or skin absorbtion during the normal course of working with a product in the proscribed manner. This is not the type of testing that the CPSIA requires with involves acid digestion of a substance to weigh the lead that remains vs the starting weight of the whole product. Even when a MSDS does show lead levels lower than OSHA's required reporting level not all of the pertinent lab information is included to satisfy the requirements of the CPSIA. The report should have which of the 2 approved lead testing methods where used and which of the CPSIA regulations by subsection that the test refers to.

"15. Issues Related to Component Part Testing.
Some commenters indicated that the materials they use should not require testing because the material safety data sheets (MSDS) already show that the materials do not contain lead.
As the Commission stated in the procedures rule, material safety data sheets are insufficient for purposes of demonstrating compliance with the lead limits under the CPSIA (74 FR at 10478). Since regulations concerning MSDS require reporting only for chemicals with content levels that exceed 1000 ppm, the MSDS sheets cannot be used to show that a product complies with the lead limits of the CPSIA, which are 600 ppm for products sold after February 10, 2009, 300 ppm for products sold after August 14, 2009, and 100 ppm for products sold after August 14, 2011 (if deemed to be technologically feasible) ."
from http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/leaddeterminationsfinalrule-draft.pdf

[Former_Member]

Marking

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the info everyone!!

[Former_Member]

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