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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 111/2/20, EIC 111/2/21

20 June 2012

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 465/2012

US : CPSC's Guidelines on "Drawstrings in Children's Upper Outerwear"

The trade was informed via Commercial Information Circular No. 433/2011 of 22 July 2011 that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has prohibited, with effect from 18 August 2011, drawstrings around the hood and neck area of children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 12, and limited the length of drawstrings around the waist and bottom of children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 16. To improve compliance, the CPSC has issued some guidelines on the use of drawstrings in children's upper outerwear. The guidelines can be found at: http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/drawstrings.html.

DETAILS

2. The guidelines provide a thorough review of the current requirements and clarifies several issues of importance. It makes clear that drawstrings around the hood and neck area of children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 12 are prohibited. For drawstrings around the waist and bottom of children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 16, the length of drawstrings is limited to three inches outside the drawstring channel when the garment is expanded to its fullest width. Such garments must be free of toggles, knots and other attachments at the free ends of drawstrings. Waist and bottom drawstrings must be one continuous string and be bar tacked (i.e., stitched through to prevent the drawstring from being pulled through its channel).
 

3. A set of frequently asked questions about the use of drawstrings in children's upper outerwear has been updated by the CPSC at: http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/drawstringsfaq.html.

ENQUIRIES

4. Traders are strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements. For other enquiries concerning this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,




(Miss Cindy LAU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry