Chemical Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Chemical Regulations in the United States
Several regulations in the United States restrict chemicals in consumer products. Some substances are banned, while others are subject to limits. In other cases, there are reporting and testing requirements.

The chemical regulations that do apply depend on various factors, including the product type, age group, or even which US states you sell in.

In this guide, we cover the CPSIA, TSCA, California Proposition 65 and other regulations that set compliance requirements for chemicals in consumer products.

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Children’s Product Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Children's Product Regulations in the United States

Children’s products are subject to various regulations in the United States. These cover safety standards, flammability, chemical restrictions, traceability, warning labels, certification, and testing requirements.

The requirements differ depending on the type of children’s product, but there are measures that cover not only toys, but also children’s apparel, furniture, and so on.

Children’s products are also subject to regulations that are not specific to a certain age group but are applicable to consumer products in general. Nonetheless, these are equally important.

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United States Product Labeling Requirements: A Complete Guide

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Products sold in the United States must generally be labeled or marked according to the requirements in the applicable regulations. Some labeling requirements apply to all products, while others only cover certain types of products, materials, or even age groups.

Commonly, a single product is subject to several different product labeling and marking requirements, which is why you can often see a plethora of product information and compliance marks on everything from phone chargers to baby clothing.

This guide serves as an introduction to US product labeling and marking requirements for clothing, electronics, children’s products, furniture, and many other products.

Note that this guide covers both federal and some state-level labeling requirements. That being said, this is not an exhaustive list of labeling requirements in the United States.

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ASTM F963-23 Children’s Product Safety Standard: An Overview

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ASTM F963-23 is the latest version of ASTM F963, a safety standard that sets requirements for children’s products in the US. Compliance with ASTM F963-23 will become mandatory on April 20, 2024.

It covers requirements regarding chemical and heavy metals, mechanical, physical, and electrical safety, and more.

In this guide, we explain what you must know about ASTM F963-23, which products must comply with it, how you should ensure compliance, and where to buy the standard.

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US State Product Safety Standards and Regulations: An Overview

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US State Product Safety Regulations

US importers and manufacturers are oftentimes not only required to ensure compliance with federal level requirements – but also those that apply on a state level. This guides serves as a broad overview of US state level regulations concerning chemicals and heavy metals, flammability, children’s product safety and more.

We do not cover every state, nor do we cover all product compliance related regulations in the listed US states. Additionally, we published a separate article for California.

Note: This guide is a compilation of articles published in 2021. Note that we have not updated or checked the information since the initial publications in 2021. Some information may be outdated.

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Microplastic Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can be found in consumer products such as cosmetics, or toothpaste.

The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015f amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act to prohibit microbeads, which are a type of microplastics that are intentionally added to products such as rinse-off cosmetics. The reason is that microplastics can end up in waterways and harm fish and other marine life.

In this guide, we explain what microplastics are, which products may contain them, and how the FDA and various state regulations restrict some types of microplastics from being used in products.
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Hazardous Materials Regulations: An Essential Guide

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Hazardous Materials Regulations
The Hazardous Materials Regulations sets requirements related to the transportation of dangerous materials, which include substances and products – such as batteries.

In this guide, we explain what the general requirements are and how US importers and manufacturers can use the Hazardous Materials Table to find relevant information concerning the requirements for their specific hazardous materials or product. We also provide a case study, focusing on the requirements for lithium batteries.
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Bisphenol A (BPA) Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic chemical used to improve durability and heat resistance in plastics. As such, it has long been used when manufacturing plastic products, from kitchen utensils and toys to certain medical devices.

That said, studies show that BPA may interfere with hormones, and cause other damage to the human body. It’s therefore not surprising that BPA is regulated in the United States, especially in food contact products designed for children.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about BPA restrictions, including FDA 21 CFR, California Proposition 65, and other state regulations.

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Essential Oil Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Essential Oil Regulations United States

Essential oils imported and manufactured for sales in the United States are covered by various regulations. These set requirements concerning substances, labelling, packaging, and testing.

In this guide, we take a closer look at Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), and California Proposition 65, and how these relate to essential oils in various ways. We also list several procedures and standards that can be used when testing essential oils.

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PFAS Regulations in the United States: An Essential Guide

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Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that can be added to certain materials to enhance their ability to resist water, stains, and flames. Products that might contain PFAS include non-stick cookware, apparel, furniture, and building materials.

In recent years, some federal and state regulations in the United States have been regulating PFAS due to their toxicity to humans and the environment. In this article, we explain what PFAS are, as well as how these substances are restricted in the United States.
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