cpsiaIn the wake of 2007’s lead toy scares, congress recently passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which is meant to ensure that all products aimed at kids, especially those that could end up in someone’s mouth, are tested to be lead-free [1][2].

The act [3] applies to any items, not only toys or games or “baby items”, manufactured after the date of the ban, which comes into effect on February 10, now only a month away.

Many second-hand store owners and charities are concerned that they can’t possibly verify that every part of every item coming into their store (zippers, sweatshirts, buttons, and so on) meet the act’s requirements. (source)

Update: The CPSC issued a clarification on Thursday indicating that sellers of second-hand goods are exempt from having to check their goods. (source)

Some companies are broadcasting their readiness. I received one such press release from Delano game printing services, for instance.

[1] Actually, lead levels under a certain ppm.

[2] They also have to be phthalate-free.

[3] Official site of the act.