Tag: compliance us

CPSC Substantial Product Hazards List: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

CPSC Substantial Product Hazards

The CPSC Substantial Product Hazards List contains consumer products that include features that might present a risk to the general public. As an example, children’s upper outerwear with drawstrings might present a risk of strangulation for kids.

As such, importers and manufacturers should ensure that their products, if mentioned on the list, adhere to the requirements of appropriate standards.

In this guide, we explain what substantial product hazards are. We also list them, including their definition, relevant standards, and more.

Continue reading CPSC Substantial Product Hazards List: An Overview

Food Contact Materials Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 3 Comments

Food contact materials comprise products and packaging that are meant to come into contact with food or drinks. This includes cookware, cutlery, and food containers. While the main focus of food contact materials regulations is the restrictions of substances that are deemed to be dangerous (e.g. heavy metals), other requirements might also apply – such as labeling.

In this guide, we summarize various food contact material regulations in the United States, including substance restrictions, labeling, documentation, and testing requirements.
Continue reading Food Contact Materials Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Textiles Labeling Requirements in the United States

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Textile Labeling Requirements in the United States

Products containing textile fibers, fur, and wool, that are imported or manufactured in the United States, are covered by the labeling rules and requirements outlined in 16 CFR Parts 303, 301, and 300.

Additionally, care labeling might be required for some products (e.g. wearing apparel), according to 16 CFR Part 423. Other regulations such as CPSIA or the Flammable Fabric Act also sets labeling requirements for textiles products based on the age group or fabric characteristics.

In this guide, we explain what products are covered by the relevant regulations, and what are the labeling requirements. Note that, while some of these regulations might also contain documentation, testing, and other requirements, in this article we focus on the labeling requirements.

Continue reading Textiles Labeling Requirements in the United States

Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Möbius Loop Symbol

The Möbius loop is a widely recognized symbol that generally indicate packaging recyclability. The requirements for using the Möbius loop symbol differ depending on whether you sell in the EU, US, or UK.

For example, some regulations – such as 16 CFR Part 260 in the US – set requirements and guidance on how to use the Möbius loop symbol. For instance, importers and manufacturers might need to provide proof of their packaging’s recyclability or qualify their recyclability claims.

In short, you should not use the Möbius loop symbol unless you have something to support it. Even then, the requirements are not always crystal clear.

In this guide, we explain the meaning of the Möbius loop symbol, and how guidance regarding its usage varies across the EU, the US, and the UK.

Note that we always refer to “packaging” because, in the official documents we could find, the provided examples usually concern packaging products (e.g. cardboard boxes or food containers).

Continue reading Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

UN 38.3 Requirements for Lithium Batteries: A Practical Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 2 Comments

UN 38.3 guide

If you are planning to ship lithium batteries in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, or Canada, you should be aware that there are restrictions, due to the fact that lithium batteries might be dangerous. For example, they might explode or catch fire.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers should know about UN 38.3 compliance requirements in practice. Note that other markets might regulate lithium batteries as well.
Continue reading UN 38.3 Requirements for Lithium Batteries: A Practical Guide

Reese’s Law – Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 5 Comments

Reese's Law
Reese’s Law, enacted in honor of a toddler who lost her life due to the ingestion of a button cell battery, intends to protect users from similar tragedies. It mandates the establishment of a safety standard, which in turn sets requirements for button cell and coin batteries, and products that might contain such batteries.

This guide explains the background and purpose of Reese’s Law. It also covers 16 CFR Part 1263, the safety standard proposed by the CPSC as a result of the law. This guide also covers the standard’s product scope, as well as requirements regarding performance, labeling, testing, and certification.
Continue reading Reese’s Law – Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

STURDY Act – Safety Requirements for Clothing Storage Units

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

STURDY Act
The STURDY Act mandates the CPSC to establish a mandatory safety standard protecting young children from potential injury or death resulting from clothing or storage units tipping over. The act also requires the standard to contain stability tests and product warning label requirements.

In this guide, we explain when and why the STURDY Act was signed into law, and its requirements concerning testing and warnings. We also cover the ASTM F2057 requirements, which was adopted as mandatory safety standard by the CPSC, as a result of the STURDY Act.
Continue reading STURDY Act – Safety Requirements for Clothing Storage Units

Phthalate Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to improve certain material characteristics in plastics. However, phthalates may cause infertility, obesity, and cancer. It’s therefore not surprising that these substances are subject to increasingly strict regulations – especially when it comes to infant and children’s products.

That said, phthalates regulations also cover food packaging, kitchen utensils, and other products. Keep reading, and learn what importers and manufacturers must know about US phthalates restrictions and lab testing.
Continue reading Phthalate Regulations in the United States: An Overview

FCC Unintentional Radiators: A Practical Guide

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — Leave a comment

An unintentional radiator is defined by the FCC as a device that uses electrical radio frequency signals within the product or sends these signals to associated equipment via connecting wiring.

For instance, a wired mouse would fall under the previous description. This is in contrast to wireless devices, which are generally considered to be intentional radiators.

Both unintentional and intentional radiators are regulated under 47 CFR Part 15, even though the requirements are different.

This guide covers the requirements of 47 CFR Part 15 for unintentional radiators, including product scope, exemptions, authorization procedure, labeling, documentation, and testing.
Continue reading FCC Unintentional Radiators: A Practical Guide

California Proposition 65 Guide for US Importers & Amazon Sellers

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 2 Comments

California Proposition 65 restricts heavy metals, phthalates, and other substances in consumer products sold in California. it also sets warning label requirements.

In this guide, we explain what importers, manufacturers, and Amazon sellers must know about restricted substances, warning labeling, lab testing, and compliance risks.
Continue reading California Proposition 65 Guide for US Importers & Amazon Sellers