Think This Can't Happen to You? The Reality of CPSIA

We have all heard about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). And up to now, as distributors, we have been relatively insulated to the developing changes that suppliers have had to follow closely and adapt to be compliant.

That is all ending now.

Recently, an account executive in our company placed an order for imprinted key tags. The order arrived, but along with the client's logo and website there were a series of numbers printed under where the imprint was located. They didn't know what these numbers were. Upon checking with the supplier, it was discovered that this is part of their CPSIA labeling effort. These numbers are a tracking number that is now printed on products that are considered for use by children.

A tracking number will now be imprinted on about 475 of this supplier's products. And at the moment you may not know where the numbers are being printed as it depends on which product you buy. Apparently they are working on a system to give this information to distributors via their website or in future catalogs.

To me this is problematic. If a client's imprint is going to be changed to include these numbers, notification on the website and in a catalog is not going to cut it. I want a phone call before the order is printed at all. And what are the consequences of placing the numbers next to the client's imprint? I'm guessing a canceled order in many cases.

In this case the client was not very happy. Can you blame them? The tracking number was printed right next to their website and it looked terrible. This tracking information has nothing to do with California Prop 65 (a separate issue) but is a number that needs to be included on products that could be used by children. The supplier appears to be following CPSIA federal guidelines by including it.