New Law Restricts Toy Donations

March 11th, 2009

• The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act went into effect on February 10, 2009. The law bans the sale of children’s products:

  1. containing more than 600 parts per million total lead;
  2. containing more than .1% of certain specific phthalates;
  3. the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled.

  Children’s products are products designed for children age 12 and under.

  Goodbye Rubber Ducky

  According to the CPSC, phthalates “are a group of chemicals (oily, colorless liquids) that are used, among other things, to make vinyls and other plastics soft and flexible.” (See http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/smbus/cpsiasbguide.pdf). Items that fall into this category may include bath toys, inflatable pools, “general use balls,” bibs, bottles, cribs, booster seats and pacifiers, the agency says.

  Other “Bad” Products

  The CPSC warns against the sale of cheap metal kids’ jewelry, toys easily broken down into small parts including stuffed animals with eyes, noses or other small parts not securely attached. The agency also frowns on clothing with rhinestones and/or metal or vinyl snaps or zippers or appliqués.

  Thrift, Consignment And Charity Shops

  Resellers are not required to test products for lead or phthalates but if they sell products containing either they can be punished under the new law. Thrift, consignment and charity shops do not have the means to test the donations they receive for compliance with the new law. Therefore, many of them no longer accept children’s products containing any kind of metal or plastic.

  What This Means For You

  Do NOT take any children’s product (whether it’s a toy or some other item) containing metal or plastic (including painted wooden toys) to any thrift, consignment or charity shop without first calling to find out whether they will accept the particular item you want to sell or donate.

  More Info

  For more information on the new law, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/smbus/cpsiasbguide.pdf.

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