Tracking Labels... [nitty gritty]

[Former_Member]

working on an article about the tracking labels... but this is interesting:


Are tracking labels required on domestically made products or are they only required for imported products?

Tracking labels are required for all children’s products manufactured one year after enactment of the CPSIA (August 14, 2009) regardless of whether they are domestic or imported products.


so, there's a year grace period?

[Former_Member]

oooohhh.. wait, it refers to the August 2008 date as the one year... never mind.

[Former_Member]

,,,, and what is supposed to be on these labels again?

[Former_Member]

- manufacturer or private labeler
- location of the product
- date of production
- cohort information (if applicable)
(including the batch, run number, or other identifying characteristic)


Impotant Notes for Crafters
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/103faq.html#103q8

[Former_Member]

I just read that "crafters" may not be required to include batch, run, lot numbers. I will try to find that info and include a link....if I can!

[Former_Member]

Here is the "cohort" information....

What cohort information is to be marked or ascertainable? Do small volume
manufacturers or crafters need to create a system that includes batch, run or other
numbers?
Although Section 103(a) does not require manufacturers that do not use lot, batch or run
numbers to create such a system, the Commission believes that compliance with this
Section generally will require that manufacturers have in place a reasonable means to
ascertain detailed production information, including the means to distinguish products
made from different factories, made with different components, at different times or have
other material differences that make the product non-identical from previous products.
The business and recordkeeping practices of peer manufacturers should be considered.
Small volume manufacturers and crafters may be unlikely to use lot, batch or run
numbers, and, again, the Commission does not interpret Section 103(a) to require them to
create such a system. Nevertheless, reasonable practices should be in place by such
manufacturers to keep records of components used in their products.

I'm still looking for the link.

[Former_Member]

that info can be anything that lets you locate a product quickly, if you are called out by the CPSC.

if you use that same materials for all your products, you don't really need to know a specific exact one if you are asked about your items.

let's say you make bows, stuffed toys and teethers.

and you make each out of the same materials respectively for each product, you need to have a seperate code for each product line.


if that makes ANY sense.

:)


but, no, you don't need a different number for each item. tho, you can do that, if you'd like. that's entirely up to you.

there's a lot of stuff that doesn't really apply to crafters the same way it applies to people who manufacture thousands of items, and millions of each of each product.

[Former_Member]

i think it has a lot to do with the fact that when items were being recalled, they had to say "purchased between date and date" and now, if there's a recall on a product that sold worldwide, they want to be able to say batch #005323 is bad, RETURN IT!

which is why it needs to be permanent and locatable.

hopefully, tho, with stricter penalties, there will be a lot less recalls for lead and phthalates. safety issues and other stuff still comes up, it happens. but, let's hope for less poisoned toys.

[Former_Member]

Zparkleys I LOVE your sock monkeys!! Way to cute!!

[PuppetPieShop]

If you make handmade items are are a small business you do not need a tracking number.

You need the location the item was made (city & region/state) and the name of the manufacturer.

[PuppetPieShop]

http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/ballot/ballot09/tracklabelpolicy.pdf

Read the whole thing, its rather encouraging.

[Former_Member]

This may have already been posted but what materials related to clothing are "allowed" without testing? Or can you tell me where the information can be found?

[PuppetPieShop]

I believe that any fabric or textile is okay. once you add a button or zipper, you need to test.

[Former_Member]

What do you do with items that you have no idea where or when they were purchased? I have a huge fabric stash, thread stash, rickrack stash, etc. You get the picture. How do I keep track of that?

[PuppetPieShop]

gigglekids, are you asking in the sense that you need to know if you should get those things tested? or in that you don't know where those things were made?

Anything you make needs to be tested if it includes anything that isn't a textile. (fabric, thread (non-metallic) & rickrack are all textiles, if I'm not mistaken)

As far as your requirement to label, as long as you're making something with those items, it doesn't matter where you got them, it only matters where you made the headband, dress, jumper, etc. So you'd put Your City, then OKlahoma, USA plus your name.

[Former_Member]

staceyrebecca i just wanted to pop in and say your avatar is probably my favorite ever :)

[PuppetPieShop]

aww thanks halpal!

[SewFunDollClothes]

gigglekids, I too have a stash of fabric I've purchased over the years, and also fabric scraps I've purchased from other crafters. I was sooooo relieved when fabric was put on the 'exempt from testing' list because I no longer remember where some of my many, many, many pieces of fabric and ribbon came from. I can deal with the labeling requirement, but if I had to test all this fabric I'd be calling it quits.

[stelladottie]

soooo -

i am going to be making blankets - they are going to consist of fleece and thread...i know i don't need anything tested..BUT do i need to sew on a label with name, city/state/website/year? or can i write it on a tag that can be removed?
sorry - i know i can look this up, but its gets so confusing

as for tracking the product, i think our websites do that and i keep all paypal emails and usps receipts....

[stelladottie]

staceyrebecca - that monkey is killing me! hahahah

[Former_Member]

How would you label something such as a bodysuit or blanket that you buy and then applique. For example, an embroidery blank that has its own tag that is CPSIA compliant, but that you want to put an applique on. Any ideas?

Another thing, if you print your own labels, then you have to worry about the printer ink, don't you? If you write on the labels that you have with an ink pen, then you have to worry about that ink also, right? Seems like a never ending circle.

[SewFunDollClothes]

"Seems like a never ending circle."

I think that sums up this CPSIA law rather nicely!

[PuppetPieShop]

stelladottie,

that's my goal...take over the world via death by monkey.
MUAHAHAHA!

The label needs to be permanent because if the toy is sold or given away, the manufacturer needs to be traceable. The only exception to this is very small items in which labeling is out of the question.

So just sew in a nice pretty label with your name (or your company's name) & where you live (city, state, country) and to be honest that can only make your business *more* business-like... Who doesn't like a pretty little label on thing? Class it up a bit and be proud that you're making products where you make them! ;)

*steps off of podium, stops national anthem mix tape*

mudpies, can you get embroidered labels?

[PuppetPieShop]

oh! And mudpies, I'd honestly just put my label next to the fleece blanket label. I'd put "appliqued by mudpies, *city, state, USA*"
Or on a onesie, you can put it underneath...or wherever looks nice.

[Former_Member]

staceyrebecca said:
gigglekids, are you asking in the sense that you need to know if you should get those things tested? or in that you don't know where those things were made?

Anything you make needs to be tested if it includes anything that isn't a textile. (fabric, thread (non-metallic) & rickrack are all textiles, if I'm not mistaken)

As far as your requirement to label, as long as you're making something with those items, it doesn't matter where you got them, it only matters where you made the headband, dress, jumper, etc. So you'd put Your City, then OKlahoma, USA plus your name.
__________

I know the fabrics and such won't need tested, but I thought we were to keep very specific records of each item used to make our finished product. And each item we had to record where and when it was purchased. Am I wrong? Geez I hope I'm wrong!