Times are changing! In response to increasing concern about consumer product safety, congress just passed the most sweeping consumer products legislation of years, decades, maybe ever. I have been tracking this legislation for about a year, even flying up to DC to meet with legislators on various topics.

In general, I am THRILLED with the new legislation. Most of the changes will have little effect on the way we do business at Scandinavian Child, because our manufacturers are doing almost everything they require already. For example, it has never failed to amaze me that ASTM testing standards were voluntary. It pains me to see competing products that clearly cannot meet these basic standards. It also makes us less competitive because it costs us more to make products that meet these standards. (You would be amazed what a feat of engineering the Anka High Chair was to develop within the safety standards and without adding a bunch of plastic and complicated mechanisms.)

To summarize a few key points of the legislation*: " Mandatory Third Party Testing of Certain Children's Products " Tracking Labels of Children's Products " Mandatory Toy Safety Standards " Prohibition of Certain Products Containing Specific Phthalates " Lowers the Allowable Lead Content in Products " The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will study the use of formaldehyde in textiles. " The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) will have a dramatic increase in funding and staffing to inspect ports and overseas factories.

If you want to know more, the Library of Congress has the full legislation here.

*Sources: Intertek Group and JPMA