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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 111/2/21

20 November 2008

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 580/2008

US : Final Rule on Labelling Requirements for Toy and Game Advertisements

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published in the Federal Register (FR) notice of 17 November 2008 a final rule on labelling requirements for advertising toys and games in catalogues and other printed materials, and Internet websites. A copy (pdf format) of the FR notice is appended to this circular for reference.

  1. The trade was informed via Commercial Information Circular No. 508/2008 that the CPSC issued on 6 October 2008 its proposed labelling requirements applying to advertisements (including catalogues, other printed materials, and Internet websites), which provide a direct means of purchase or order of products requiring cautionary labelling under Sections 24(a) and (b) of the US Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) to seek public comments. The CPSC is now issuing a final rule for advertisements of certain toys and games. The final rule details requirements regarding the type-size and placement of the cautionary labelling and the use of abbreviated warnings for catalogues and other printed materials. The final rule exempts catalogues circulated solely between businesses from the rule's requirements, except where the recipient business is one that could be expected to be purchasing the product for the use of children rather than for resale.

  2. The effective date of this final rule with respect to catalogues and other printed materials is 10 February 2009. The CPSC is providing a grace period of 180 days, or until 9 August 2009, during which catalogues and other printed materials printed prior to 10 February 2009 may be distributed without the required cautionary statements. Catalogues and other printed materials that are printed on or after 10 February 2009 must have the required cautionary statements. All catalogues and other printed materials distributed on or after 9 August 2009 must comply with this rule, regardless of when they were printed. Internet advertisements must comply with Section 24 of the FHSA as amended by the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 no later than 12 December 2008.

  3. Specifications of the labelling requirements are detailed in the FR notice. Traders are strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements.

ENQUIRIES

  1. 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