US recalls children's chairs due to excessive lead

On 9 June 2016, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls children’s chairs and swings imported from China as the screen-printing on the fabric of the chairs and swings contains excessive levels of lead.

This recall involves 6,000 units of Leisure Ways® pink butterfly themed children’s camp chairs, moon chairs, and swings. The chair and swings have a metal frame with large red butterfly images and other colorful images on the pink polyester fabric. CPSC has found that the screen-printing on the fabric of the chairs and swings contains excessive levels of lead, which is a violation of the federal lead paint standard.

Lead is an efficient and low-priced printing colour agent. However, exposure to l articles containing lead or its compounds can result in severe and irreversible neurobehavioural and neurodevelopmental effects to which children are particularly sensitive given that their central nervous system is still under development. CPSC has always imposed strict limits on lead content as it has recalled toys, stationery, fashion items and textiles due to excessive levels of lead.

The three major chemical hazards lie in the followings:

1. Not aware of risks, some textile manufacturers fail to test lead in raw materials provided by raw material suppliers;
2. Some textile manufacturers do not understand the regulatory requirements of the targeted markets;
3. Some textile manufacturers use lead as printing colour agent to cut down costs to strengthen market competitiveness.

C&K Testing advises related exporters should learn regulatory requirements of trading countries and strictly control quality safety in aspects of raw materials and product design to reduce risks, and send products for testing to ensure compliance.

【中文版】

Further information
CPSC website