Oeko-Tex Certification Satisfies CPSIA Lead Testing Requirements

September 24, 2009

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that children’s textiles and textile-based products that have been certified according to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 comply with the lead content limits stated in the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). In April 2009, Oeko-Tex added the test to measure the total breakdown of lead and is already in full compliance with CPSIA’s third and final phase which goes into effect in August 2011.

While the CPSC has determined that most textiles and textile-based products do not inherently contain lead, manufacturers and importers remain responsible for verifying that their products have not been altered or modified or experienced any change in the processing, facility or supplier conditions that could impart lead into the material or product. Obtaining Oeko-Tex certification will satisfy these verification requirements according to the CPSC. Manufacturers and importers who specify Oeko-Tex certified components in addition to certifying their final products further reassure themselves that their products comply with the new Federal law.

“Not only does Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification test for lead but also for more than 100 other concerning substances that are believed to be harmful to human health including phthalates, formaldehyde, cadmium and other heavy metals, and carcinogenic compounds,” says Dr. Manfred Wentz, senior policy advisor for Oeko-Tex in the U.S.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission’s final ruling on lead content testing for textiles can be viewed at:
http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/leaddeterminationsfinalrule-draft.pdf <http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/leaddeterminationsfinalrule-draft.pdf>

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