CPSC Testing

CPSC Testing and Certification and Component Parts Testing Rules

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has set out that all the domestic manufacturers and importers of “children’s products” in the U.S. must attest their products meet all mandatory CPSC safety standards.

According to the new Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification Rule (Reasonable Testing Program Rule) that was adopted in November 2011 by the CPSC, children’s products produced on and after February 8, 2013 must provide a detailed technical file which will show that the manufacturer comply with the product rules and regulation throughout the production period.

All companies that fail to develop the documentation necessary for the technical file and also fail to certify covered products will be considered a “prohibited act,” thereby subjecting companies to liable civil fines.

One of the information necessary in the technical file is the Production or Periodic Testing Plan. The Production or Periodic Testing Plan secures a high percentage of assurance of consistent compliance to all formal training and policies as well as other applicable standards to avoid undue influence over CPSC accepted third party laboratories. Furthermore, the new Component Part Testing Rule, which became effective and functional on December 8, 2011, allows manufacturing companies to issue compliance authentications which can be whole or in part on the third-party test analysis provided by the component part or materials providers, yet just under particular conditions and with required documentation.