The partnership is a coalition of companies that sell hands-on science educational materials.
Consumer advocates say they are sympathetic to the costs associated with the safety testing, but they insist the tests must be done.
“The reason for this law is to ensure that products for children are safe,” said Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel at the Consumer Federation of America. “The universe for where there is ambiguity on testing is a relatively small one.”
The issue before the commission—coming up with a clearer definition of a children’s product—has caused weeks of discussion, late-night meetings, and some angst at CPSC, an agency charged with making sure that thousands of products on the market are safe. A vote on the issue has been bumped three times already.
While it’s clear that an Elmo telephone toy for a toddler falls under the law and requires additional testing, there are products that linger in a gray area—such as the science kits, or lamps and rugs that are decorated with fairies or trains. Those same rugs minus the fairies or trains would not have to undergo the additional, often costly testing.
The Halloween industry, for example, says a superhero costume can be worn by teenagers and adults, so it shouldn’t necessarily be classified as a children’s product. Handmade toy makers argued to the commission that child-sized musical instruments are similar to adult-sized instruments.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, known as CPSIA, defines a children’s product as an item designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger. Since the law’s passage, critics have decried confusion in the marketplace about what products have to be tested, and how often.
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