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Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 Diane M. Meyers Perkins Coie, LLP 1201 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington 206-359-8324 Dmeyers@perkinscoie.com This presentation reflects the views of the presenter and is presented for Discussion Purposes Only
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2 Legislative response to large number of children's toy recalls in 2007 and 2008 Passed overwhelmingly by House (424-1) and Senate (89-3) Signed into law by President Bush on August 14, 2008 CPSIA Generally
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3 Major Provisions Imposes Lead Content Limits Phases in progressively stringent lead content limits beginning in February 2009 Imposes Phthalate Content Limits Phases in progressively stringent phthalate limits beginning in February 2009 Requires Third Party Testing Expands Certification Requirements Adopts Mandatory Toy Standards
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4 Important Definitions Children's Products Most provisions apply to products intended or designed primarily for children 12 years of age or younger Children's Toys Designed or intended for a child 12 years of age or younger for use when child plays Child Care Articles Designed or intended to facilitate sleep or feeding of children 3 years of age or younger or to help such children with sucking or teething
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5 Lead (Section 101) Applies to children’s products Makes it illegal to sell, offer for sale, manufacture, import or distribute children's products that exceed acceptable lead levels Children's products containing more than the acceptable amount of lead will be treated as banned substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act Imposes lead limit of 600 ppm on Feb 10, 2009 Decreases acceptable lead limit to 300 ppm in August 2009 Leaves open the possibility of further decreases
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6 CPSC may, by rule, exclude a specific product or material from lead content rule. Inaccessible component parts CPSC will issue rule on inaccessible product components Inaccessible component is any part not physically exposed through foreseeable use and abuse Absorption CPSC may exclude product if it determines no absorption of lead in the body Electronic Devices If it is not possible for certain devices to be sufficiently lead-free, CPSC may exclude Lead (continued)
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7 Phthalates (Section 108) Imposes interim ban on products containing 0.1 percent or more of DINP, DIDP, or DnOp Applies to: Children's toys that can be placed in a child's mouth Child care articles Imposes permanent ban products containing 0.1 percent or more of DEHP, DBP or BBP Applies to: Children's toys Child care articles
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8 Mandatory Toy Safety Standards (Section 106) Adopts ASTM F963-07 as a mandatory toy safety standard Applies to more children's products than CPSIA Includes thirty-nine safety standards that must be followed on February 10, including standards related to: Small objectsMarbles Cords and elasticsRattles Wheels, tires and axlesStrollers Battery-operated toysBalls Projectile toysYo-Yos Toy chestsStuffed toys
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9 Conformity Certificates (Section 102) Two types General Conformity Certificate Became effective November 12, 2008 Certificate based on third-party testing Becomes effective on a rolling basis Issued with the product or shipment of products and a copy must be furnished to each distributor or retailer Sample Certification provided on CPSC website
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10 Certification Requirements Must certify conformity with every consumer product safety rule any similar rule, ban, standard or regulation under any other Act enforced by the CPSC, which includes: Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA); Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA); Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA); and Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA) Certification must be based on a test of each product or a reasonable testing program and third party testing (when required) Certification of compliance with industry standards is not required by CPSIA unless the standard is enforced by the CPSC
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11 Third Party Testing (Section 102) CPSC required to develop accreditation procedure based on statutory timelines, e.g.: Lead paint December 2008 Cribs and pacifiers January 2009 Small parts February 2009 Metal jewelryMarch 2009 Third party testing applicable 90 days after accreditation notice published Manufacturer must submit samples to third party testing body before importing for consumption or warehousing or distributing in commerce
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12 Warning and Tracking Labels Tracking labels (Section 103) Requires information regarding the manufacturer, date and location of production and batch and run numbers Must be permanently affixed to all children's products and packaging manufactured after August 14, 2009 Warning labels (Section 105) Expands warning requirements Requires warnings in Internet advertisements, catalog ads and other materials InternetDecember 12, 2008 Catalog adsFebruary 10, 2009
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13 Timeline for Compliance November 12, 2008 General conformity certifications required Every manufacturer of a product subject to rule, ban, standard or regulation must issue a certificate Must specify each rule, ban, standard or regulation to which the product is subject Based on a test of each product or upon a reasonable testing program
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14 Timeline (continued) February 10, 2009 Phthalate limits in child care articles, children's toys and children's toys that can be placed in the mouth Lead content limits in children's products Mandatory toy safety standards Third-party testing and certification Warnings in catalog ads
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15 Timeline (continued) August 14, 2009 Lower limit on lead in paint from 600 ppm to 90 ppm Lower limit on total lead content from 600 ppm to 300 ppm Tracking labels required
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16 CPSC Suspends Testing and Certification On January 30, the CPSC suspended testing and certification requirements Underlying safety standards and rules still apply
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17 Important Regulatory Responsibilities Remain In Place Suspension does not apply to: Lead paint ban if made after Dec 21, 2008 Cribs and pacifiers if made after Jan 20, 2009 Products subject to small parts ban if made after Feb 15, 2009 Lead content in metal components of children’s jewelry if made after March 23, 2009 Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s made after April 13, 2009 Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements Pool drain cover requirements State Attorneys General can still enforce Litigation over CPSC authority to issue stay is likely
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18 Applicability to Inventory Lead content limits apply to existing product inventory as of February 10, 2009 Phthalate content limits may not apply to existing product inventory on February 10, 2009, but this is the subject of litigation
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19 Impact on State Product Liability Law Some states have more stringent safety laws that their attorneys general may try to enforce E.g., California AG advised that CA would enforce its broader phthalate ban Common law and state statutory claims may not be preempted States may petition CPSC for exemption from some CPSIA provisions
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20 Penalties Civil Increased to $100,000 (increased cap to $15 million) Criminal Increased to $500,000 Permits imprisonment and forfeiture of assets Retailers or distributors who hold a general conformity certificate (or third-party testing certificate when required) are protected
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21 Other Provisions Enforcement by state attorneys general Administrative changes Searchable database Increases CPSC budget and staff Industry-sponsored travel ban Recall provisions Import-Export Provisions Whistleblower protection ATV standard
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22 Some Practical Problems Unsold inventory Children's books, including library books Destructive testing of one-of-a-kind goods Second-hand sales of products Lack of clarity regarding accessible components Lack of clarity regarding stay Lead times for manufacturers Components
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23 What's next? CPSC to issue guidance and rulemaking Third party certification Component testing Excluding from regulation certain products Legislative changes considered Pending litigation
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24 For More Information CPSC website: www.cpsc.gov Contact Diane Meyers or one of the attorneys in Perkins Coie's Product Liability Practice
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25 Diane Meyers is an associate in Perkins Coie's Product Liability practice. She assists clients with complex litigation, including work on product liability cases worldwide for The Boeing Company and other aviation manufacturers. She counsels clients on lawsuit avoidance, including compliance with consumer product safety laws and regulations. Before joining Perkins Coie, Diane worked as an associate for Osborn Maledon in Phoenix, where she assisted on a variety of commercial, employment, appellate and regulatory litigation and counseling matters. Diane enjoys cheering on the Irish and the Red Sox and playing Ultimate Frisbee in her spare time.
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