CPSC on February 10th

On February 10, 2009 a series of new consumer product safety regulations will go into effect.  Many relate to products marketed to and intended for children under the age of 12.  There are limits on lead content, testing requirements and labeling rules.  All of this will be and is being handled between Kaeser and Blair and our suppliers.

There is one provision concerning catalogs that all Kaeser & Blair personnel and dealers should be aware of.  We currently show 5 items that without the exemption we have, would require additional warning notices.  Those items are the Foam Cubes on page 159, Peg Puzzle on page 160, all Stress Balls page 156, Nutty Putty on page 155 and all balloons.

Our exemption from the requirement is based on two things.  The first is that we are a business to business sales organization.  The second is that our catalog provides no direct purchasing channel.  So the K&B Best Buys catalog and our other marketing is in full compliance with the new regulations.

Since the federal regulations extend to web based catalogs as well, dealers must be very careful not to run up against these new regulations. If the website provides for purchase or if it appears that the products offered are appropriate for children younger than 12 years of age, warning statements are required by the new regulations. The primary issue is small parts children younger than 3 years of age can put in their mouth. If dealers link to the Best Buys catalog and provide a way for customers to place an order online sale they must place a prominent notice stating the following:

"Everything offered for sale is intended for adult business marketing purposes. Many items may contain small parts and are not appropriate for or intended for children and pose a hazard to children younger than 3 years of age."

Balloons pose the most risk as they are universally considered to be toys for children. For more information please contact Gregg Emmer (gemmer@kaeser-blair.com) at K&B