relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2/21

7 April 2010

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 153/2010

US : CPSC Releases Information on In-House Test Method : CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determination of Phthalates (1st April 2010)

The trade was informed via Commercial Information Circular (CIC) No. 425/2009 that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff prepared a document entitled "Test Method: CPSC-CH-C1001-09.2 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determination of Phthalates, dated 27 July 2009". The CPSC has recently posted a new document entitled "Test Method: CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determination of Phthalates (1st April 2010)" to its website at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3.pdf providing detailed information on test methods that will be used by the CPSC testing laboratory (Laboratory Sciences, Division of Chemistry) for the analysis of phthalate content in children's toys and child care articles covered by the standard set forth in Section 108 of the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). A copy (pdf format) of the document is appended to this circular for reference

  1. This circular also serves to remind traders of CPSC's decision to continue the stay of enforcement of certain testing and certification requirements specified in the CPSIA for a number of consumer products or children's products including those containing phthalates until 10 February 2011. This means that the CPSC will not take enforcement action against the manufacturers (including importers) and private labellers of such products for not having certificates based on third party testing as required by the CPSIA. Products must still comply with these regulations including any testing requirements contained in those regulations. The CPSC intends to require testing and certification of these products once it completes the rulemakings associated with the products, issues notices of requirements, or otherwise resolves the issues that have warranted a continuation of the stay of enforcement for the products. Please refer to CIC No. 657/2009 dated 29 December 2009 for more details.

ENQUIRIES

  1. To facilitate traders understand more about the CPSIA requirements, the CPSC has prepared and posted phthalates requirements and guidelines to its website at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect108.html. The CPSC has also prepared a Chinese webpage (http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/intl/newusreq_ch.html) for information. Traders are strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements. 
     

  2. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,




(Miss Bonny CHAO)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry