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Get It Global Articles
The Problem of Lead Content in Chinese Products
 The Problem of Lead Content in Chinese Products Key Issues What are the dangers of lead? Lead is present in our environment and in the products that we purchase. While low levels of lead may not pose a danger to our health, lead concentrations rising to certain levels, however, can cause, neurological damage, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, particularly if ingested by children. The most prevalent source of lead for children is in dust from deteriorating paint in homes. Other sources of lead are children's toys or other products that children come into contact with, including contaminated soil, food, and plastic, metal or painted products. While most of the lead exposure in the United States occurs due to poor or sub-standard housing, attention has also been focused around products that children may come in contact with or which are commonly found in the household, Such as toys, bibs, vinyl lunch boxes, candles with lead wicks, candy wrappers and metal jewelry. Glazed ceramic and glass drinking vessels and dishware are another area of concern, as these products come in contact with food. What are the standards regarding lead in products? In the US, several government agencies are actively involved in the lead issue. These include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). The latter is charged with protecting consumers against a variety of risks related to products, including both domestically manufactured and imported products. In particular, the CPSC enforces the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). This Act states that household products that expose children to hazardous quantities of lead under reasonably foreseeable conditions of handling or use are "hazardous". Toys or other objects which are used by children, if hazardous, are banned. Other household products containing lead, though not intended for use by children, but which children come into contact with, must be properly labeled with warnings. The FHSA identifies paint as a leading potential hazard, and bans any paint with more than 0.06% lead. The CPSC has enforced the ban in the past by requiring recalls of products that violated the 0.06% rule. Other products that bear vigilance are vinyl mini-blinds, crayons, figurines, game pieces and jewelry. In general, the CPSC takes into account the total lead content, the accessibility of the product to children, and the marketing and use patterns of the product to determine if it is "hazardous". Finally, any company that purchases products containing lead or products for use by children is responsible for obtaining information on the lead content of products from the manufacturer. The electronics industry, guided by the European Union's Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS), has moved toward eliminating lead solder on mother boards, to reduce the amount of lead in these products as they are scrapped items, rather than due to any direct exposure to children. Why is there so much concern about lead now? In August, 2007, a high profile case involving Mattel exploded in the press. Mattel recalled 1.5 million units of several toys with higher than acceptable levels of lead in their paint. These include die-cast cars modeled after the movie "Cars". Also recalled were figures of Dora the Explorer, Big Bird, and Elmo. This came on the heels of an earlier recall by Thomas & Friends and its distributor RC2 Corp of 1.5 million wooden railway toys. The Chinese toy manufacturer responsible for the Mattel toys was subsequently banned from exporting to the US, and its co-owner, Mr. Geung Shu-hung, committed suicide shortly afterward. This dramatic incident sparked renewed interest and concern in US over the dangers of lead paint. In September, the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce held hearings on the issue. Chairman Dingell blamed the problem not solely on unregulated Chinese manufacturers, but on regulatory deficiencies and shoddy business practices at home. The consumer group, Global Trade watch, testified that the US trade agreements with nations such as Mexico and China have hindered enforcement of safety standards and need to be altered. In November, 2007, California's attorney general sued Mattel over lead in toys. Finally, politicians in the presidential campaign have jumped on this issue. Hillary Clinton, for example, has proposed holding foreign manufactures to US standards, stepping up inspection of goods coming into US ports, bolstering the CPSC with additional personnel and funding and requiring independent third party testing of children's toys. "Under pressure from the public, the CPSC has acted. On September 11, China signed a pact with the US government prohibiting the use of lead in toys exported to the US. China agreed to step up inspections of its exports and take measures to ensure that Chinese products meet US standards. Chuanzhong Wei, vice minister of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarentine, stated that greater supervision could prevent the reoccurrence of the Mattel incident. The two governments agreed to hold monthly discussions on recall activities and trends. What is Get It Global doing about this issue? Get It Global is committed to the responsible and safe importation of products from China. We understand that it is our responsibility to ensure that you receive quality products that are in compliance with US regulations on lead and other hazardous substances. Therefore, we have our own procedures and guidelines to protect and reassure you when you buy from us. We have a stellar import record and have never experienced any problems with lead content in our products. Obviously it is necessary to have clear communication with Chinese manufactures about lead content. We're accustomed to understanding our products very thoroughly. We talk with our suppliers regularly about the requirements of the US market and about the dangers of lead. Based on their track record, their quality, and their control of their own supply chain and production process, we choose to work with only high-quality manufacturers who have an awareness of safety concerns. Finally, in situations where lead could in any way be a danger, we require our manufacturers to issue a lead-free guarantee on their products, which we are more than pleased to pass on to our customers. In certain cases and with certain products, it is necessary to arrange an independent third-party lead inspection to control lead content. We have relationships with testing laboratories in Hong Kong and China which are certified and expert in performing these tests. The procedures employed in this process are normally as follows: (this is essential regardless of the issue of lead content) The above inspection procedures are highly effective in eliminating any problems before the goods leave port on their way to our customers. What are the costs of enforcing higher standards? Get It Global will communicate with the customer in the product development process, before the order is placed. Where there is risk of lead content, we lay out the dangers in black and white. The customer is thus advised of the testing procedures, the timeline for testing and the costs for proper monitoring. For more information about what Get It Global can do for your business, please contact us at 866.733.0222. |
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