ADG products meet current CPSIA (Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act) so that Distributors and their End-User Clients can be confident they are receiving the safest products available in the marketplace.
ADG's product offerings are designed for general use by adults and are not intended for children age 12 or younger. Only a Distributor and/or their End-User Client, by ordering a specific advertising imprint, which would render a product as targeting children age 12 or younger by doing the following:
- Utilizing marketing/advertising content specifically targeting children
- Consumer recognition of a product changes as it is now intended to reach the children's marketplace because of its imprint
ADG is not liable, nor expressly does not indemnify, End-User Clients and/or Distributors when their marketing/advertising decisions are made for products to be decorated with intent of primarily reaching the market of children age 12 or younger.
What is the new consumer products safety law?
CPSIA was signed into law on August 14, 2008 as Public Law 110-314. This federal law expanded current CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) authority and created responsibilities for those who make, distribute and sell consumer products. This law also created new standards for children's products. www.cpsc.gov
What is the jurisdiction of the CPSC and what rules, bans, standards and regulations do we need to be concerned with?
There are six areas that the CPSC regulates:
- The Consumer Products Safety Act
- The Federal Hazardous Substance Act
- The Flammability Fabrics Act
- The Poison Prevention Packaging Act
- Pool and Spa Safety Act
- Refrigerator Safety Act
All have been revised to some extent by the new CPSIA law.
What is a General Conformity Certificate?
A General Conformity Certificate (GCC) is a self-certification for a product required by the CPSIA. The new law requires a manufacturer or importer to certify that the product meets or is in conformance with applicable federal consumer product safety laws. The GCC for a particular product may need to cover multiple rules, bans, standards or regulations. It is not limited to children's products.
When does a GCC need to be issued?
A GCC must be issued for any product manufactured as of November 12, 2008 that is subject to an existing CPSIA rule, ban, standard or regulation. A GCC is also required upon the effective date of any new rule, ban, standard or regulation.
Who must issue the certificate?
For products manufactured overseas, the certificate must be issued by the importer. For products manufactured inside the United States, the certificate must be issued by the U.S. manufacturer. Neither a foreign manufacturer nor a private labeler is required to issue a certificate, and this information does not need to be identified on the certificate issued by the importer or domestic manufacturer.
Is ADG required to supply these certificates to Distributors?
ADG will make available GCC certificates. The commission rule states that we are to provide reasonable means to Distributors to access these certificates.
For any products regularly shipping from any of our facilities, all required GCCs will be kept on file and available for download via ADG's website.
For direct overseas special orders, all required GCCs will be kept on file at ADG Headquarters and can be forwarded to a Distributor upon request.
On what does the certification have to be based?
The GCC must be based on product testing completed in a reasonable testing program or 3rd party laboratory for specific rules, bans, standards or regulations that the product is subject to.
