BLC News
Lead and phthalates testing
19th January, 2011
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) came into force in September 2008 in the USA, and places restrictions on the use of certain substances in all products intended for children under 12 years of age. The act focuses on the use of lead in surface coatings and in substrate materials, and also on the use of phthalates as plasticisers in products.
For paint and similar surface coatings, such as coatings on eyelets and finishes on leather/synthetics, the maximum allowable lead content is 0.009% (equivalent to 90 ppm). Testing by a third party accredited laboratory is mandatory, and failure to provide a Certificate of Conformity may result in the product either being recalled or destroyed.
Lead in the substrate relates to the testing of a base material, for example this means that if the sample is a leather shoe, the finish will be subjected to lead in surface coating testing, and the leather itself will also require total lead testing as the substrate material. The limit for lead in substrate material is currently 300ppm with a view to reducing the limit to 100ppm later in 2011.
Phthalates are used as softeners for plastics and six phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DnOP) are commonly restricted in concentrations of more than 0.1% by weight of sample tested. A number of phthalates are also restricted on the Proposition 65 list
Manufacturers and importers of products are expected to undertake reasonable testing programmes and due diligence in order to comply with the limits set for lead and phthalates.
BLC will now routinely screen for 8 phthalates as part of the standard testing. Click here to see the table to access details of the phthalates in question and in which lists they feature, ie one or more of the following Annex XVII REACH, REACH SVHC, Proposition 65.
BLC is a CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) accredited laboratory for lead in paint and surface coatings and can also offer testing for lead in substrate and phthalates. BLC can also offer advice on suitable testing programmes and support with product failures.
For further information contact BLC on info@blcleathertech.com or +44 (0) 1604 679999.
