Distributor to Supplier: Is this Product OK for Children?

If the item is certified for use as a children's product you will see at least two rules listed. The first is CPSIA lead-in-substrate, sometimes called total lead. The second is lead-in-surface coating, sometimes called 16 CFR 1303. Lead in substrate refers to lead in the material that the product is made of. Lead in surface coating refers to lead in any painted surfaces or in the imprint.

If the item is certified as a children's toy you will see at least two more rules in addition to the two lead provisions. One is the mandatory toy safety standard called ASTM F963. That used to be a voluntary standard but Congress made it mandatory when they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The second toy related rule applies to chemicals referred to as "phthalates." CPSIA prohibits the sale of children's toys with concentrations of more than .1% of any of the phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP and DnOP.

Recommendation 2 (Children's Toy): Same concept as recommendation 1. If you sell a product that you know is likely to be used a children's toy, be sure the supplier acknowledges through the GCC that it is a children's toy.

The GCC requires other information you should note as well. First, make sure that the product identified on the GCC is exactly the same as they one you're buying. Second, look for the name of the U.S. importer or domestic manufacturer certifying compliance of the product. Is it the name of the supplier you're ordering from? If not—perhaps because the supplier bought the product from a local wholesaler—is it a company you know and are comfortable with? The name on the GCC is the party certifying compliance—the party legally responsible if something goes wrong - and ultimately the party you're entrusting with your client's logo. And if this isn't challenging enough, if the supplier buys a blank from an importer and then decorates the product, you need two GCCs—one for the product and one for the decoration.