No matter what they’re purchasing, no one wants their products to be unsafe – it’s a no-brainer! In the United States, there are several different product safety regulations that promotional products must comply with to ensure the health and safety of the people who use them.
We’re committed not only to your safety but to the safety of the people who ultimately receive your branded products, and we’re serious about protecting your brand. That’s why we’re bringing you this brief rundown of the U.S. regulatory compliances that every promo product lover should be aware of!
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent agency of the United States government that seeks to promote the safety of consumer products by addressing unreasonable risks of injury, developing safety standards, and conducting research into product-related illness and injury.
CPSIA, or the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, is one of the main regulatory compliances for the promo industry. This safety regulation was signed into law in 2008 by then-president George W. Bush. CPSIA addresses lead, phthalates, toy safety, and several other product safety concerns.
According to CPSIA compliance guidelines, packaging for certain toys or items intended for use by children must meet specific labeling requirements regarding choking hazards. Additionally, when a product’s packaging or listing online requires a cautionary label, each individual product must also include that label somewhere on the product.
So, what does this mean for promotional products? Many promotional products that may appear to be toys or children’s toys are not technically designed or intended for use by children under 12. The products we carry are, generally speaking, designed and intended to be used for advertising to and by adults.
You can learn more about CPSIA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as it applies to promotional products here: https://www.cpsc.gov/business--manufacturing/business-education/business-guidance/PromotionalProducts
The state of California’s Proposition 65, commonly referred to as Prop 65, seeks to protect California’s citizens and the state’s drinking water from chemicals known to cause cancer, congenital disabilities, or other reproductive harm and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.
Prop 65 requires businesses to notify Californians via product warning labels about significant amounts of chemicals contained in a company’s products. The list of chemicals that require labeling is over 700 chemicals long and includes things like lead and cadmium.
Something to note about Prop 65 is that many of the chemicals it deems hazardous are not actually prohibited by other government agencies, including the FDA, and many of the substances that are “known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity” are merely known to have the potential to pose risks under very specific circumstances, based on certain interpretations of the scientific data.
However, neglecting to provide the labeling on products that may end up in California can land companies in hot water, with up to a $2,500 fine per violation per day, so it’s essential to ensure that you’re purchasing Prop 65 compliant products if your items are going to California.
Thankfully, we offer plenty of Prop 65 compliant items, and you can even search specifically for compliant items on our site. You can learn more about California Proposition 65 and see the entire list of prohibited chemicals here: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65
While product safety is undoubtedly worthy of everyone’s concern, you can rest assured with us that your safety is our top priority. To see what other CPSIA and Prop 65 compliant products we have, contact us today!
