Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Cadmium in Children's Jewelry Legislation
September 29, 10 by IDEX Online Staff Reporter
(IDEX Online News) – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law the state's recently passed cadmium in children's jewelry legislation. The new law prohibits the manufacturing, shipping, and sale of children's jewelry or jewelry's components containing more than 0.03 percent (300 ppm) of cadmium as determined by a total weight test. California defines children as six and under. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.
The laws were triggered by an Associated Press report early in 2010, which disclosed that high levels of cadmium were being detected in children's jewelry purchased from U.S. retailers. The items were mostly imported from overseas manufacturers, which began adding cadmium to their products as a substitute for lead, now severely restricted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
California joins Connecticut, Illinois, and Minnesota as states that have passed legislation addressing the use of cadmium in children's jewelry.
MJSA, the U.S. trade association for jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers, is currently participating in an ASTM voluntary group to produce a new Children's Jewelry Safety Standard, which will address the use of all heavy metals (including cadmium) in children's jewelry, as well as other potential hazards.
The CPSC supported the formation of the group and is also participating. Though the CPSC has not guaranteed that it will adopt the new standard, past history suggests that it often does incorporate relevant ASTM standards into its regulations.
