Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 111/2/21

17 February 2010

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 80/2010

US : Field Testing a Pilot Rule on Chemical Reporting for Children's Products

The US Washington State's Department of Ecology (DoE) issued a news release on 28 January 2010 announcing to begin field testing a pilot rule on requiring manufacturers to disclose chemicals of concern used in children's products pursuant to the state's Children's Safe Product Act (CSPA). A copy of the news release is at Annex (pdf format) and from the website of the DoE at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/2010-014.html.

DETAILS

2. The CSPA was signed on 1 April 2008. Amongst others, it (i) requires the DoE to identify a list of Chemicals of High Concern to Children (CHCC) for which manufacturer notice is required; and (ii) requires manufacturers of children's products to notify the DoE when a CHCC is present in children's products at or above the designated trigger value. Full text of the CSPA is available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.240. 
    

3. On 28 January 2010, the DoE announced that it would begin a field test on pilot rule on CHCC reporting. The pilot rule will provide manufacturers a chance to test how the CSPA reporting requirements may affect them and help policy makers learn how to best implement the chemical reporting process. Details of the pilot rule are available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/ruleChildSafe.html. The DoE also prepared a document entitled "Draft CSPA Reporting Rule" setting out the details of the reporting requirements. The document is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/pdf/CSPArule.pdf. In addition, the DoE has released in January 2010 a draft CHCC list of 66 chemicals including antimony, bisphenol A, diethyl phthalate, formaldehyde, etc. that may trigger reporting as part of its rulemaking. The draft CHCC list is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/cspa/pdf/ChemicalReportingList.pdf.
    

4. The DoE expects to receive feedback from pilot participants and complete the pilot rule project by spring of 2010. After that, the DoE will proceed with formal rulemaking and the public will have an opportunity to comment on the rule.

ENQUIRIES

5. 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




　

Note :

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.