Fixing The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act: What´s Next?

Article by W. Jeffery Edwards, Ashley Cummings and Meghann C. Thomas

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 affects virtually every level of the consumer product commerce stream — including manufacturers, importers, distributors, private labelers and retailers — and imposes stringent testing standards and certification requirements.

This sweeping legislation created mass confusion in the products world regarding who must certify, what products are covered, how the testing is to be done and how certifications are to be made available.

CPSIA testing standards regarding lead and phthalate content were to go into effect Feb. 10, 2009. As this deadline approached, however, panic set in — particularly among small business, artisans and resellers concerned that the expense of compliance would drive them out of business.