Children's Jewelry Makers Have Until December to Limit Cadmium Content

In May 2010, a petition from the Empire State Consumer Project, the Sierra Club, the Center for Environmental Health, and the Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides asked the CPSC to ban cadmium in all toy jewelry and similar products intended for children. The CPSC deferred the decision until September 6, 2011, when the petition was granted.

CPSC chairman Tenenbaum and commissioners Thomas Moore and Robert Adler voted to grant the petition, while commissioners Nancy Nord and Anne Northup requested an additional six months to research and develop voluntary standards. CPSC staff had recommended waiting an additional six months to allow ASTM International to finish its voluntary standard development process.

"My major concern about this action is that the majority is signaling its willingness to short-circuit the voluntary standard development process," Nord said in a statement issued after the vote. "Why participate in that process if the Commission circumvents the process before the participants complete their work? Promises of collaboration ring hollow when the majority proceeds by imposing unrealistic deadlines."

Nord said that the voluntary standard for cadmium was nearly complete as of the September 6 vote, and added that she expected it will be published prior to the December 16 deadline.