Lead-testing Requirement for
Kids' ATVs Delayed
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Holds off on Required Third-party Testing
Irvine, CA (1/29/2011) - The
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has
decided to hold off on requiring third-party testing
and certification of kid-sized all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs) for lead content until Nov. 27, 2011, the
All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) reports.
The testing and certification is required under
the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
of 2008, which is commonly called the "lead
law." The CPSC is responsible for implementing
the law, including accrediting laboratories to
do the testing.
The CPSC earlier approved a stay of enforcement
of the testing and certification requirement for
kid-sized ATVs, which are designed for children
age 12 and under, until Jan. 25. On Jan. 25, the
commission extended the stay even further -- until
Nov. 27 -- noting there are no accredited third-party
testing facilities yet. The CPSC did say, however,
that CPSC staff would conduct some testing.
"In announcing its decision, the CPSC said
that it received more than 400 comments asking
for a stay of enforcement until Nov. 27,"
said Ed Moreland, senior vice president for government
relations of the American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA), which is the sister organization of the
ATVA.
"The CPSC pointed out that AMA and ATVA
members were among those who asked for the stay,"
Moreland said. "The overwhelming majority
of those who commented used AMA-provided tools
to do so, and I want to thank everyone who answered
our call to contact the CPSC.
"Now is the time for all riders to contact
their federal lawmakers and urge them to support
H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, to exempt
kid's machines from the CPSIA," he said.
"The easiest way to do that is through the
'Rights' section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcycist.com."
The Kids Just Want to Ride Act, was introduced
by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) on Jan. 25.
The proposed law would exempt kid-sized off-road
motorcycles and ATVs from the lead provisions
of the CPSIA. The CPSIA effectively banned the
sale of small displacement recreational vehicles
due to overly restrictive lead content standards.
Specifically, the CPSIA bans the making, importing,
distributing or selling of any product intended
for children 12 and under that contains more than
a specified amount of lead in any accessible part.
When the law was passed in 2008, that amount was
600 parts per million.
The lead-content threshold then dropped to 300
parts per million after Aug. 14, 2010, and is
set to drop to 100 parts per million, or the lowest
level that is technologically feasible, after
Aug. 14, 2011.
Aimed at children's toys, the CPSIA also ensnared
kids' dirtbikes and ATVs because trace levels
of lead can be found in parts such as batteries
and brake calipers. Other children's products
are also affected, such as books, clothes and
microscopes.
Many dealers are no longer selling kid-sized
ATVs, and half of the major ATV manufacturers
are no longer selling machines for kids because
of uncertainty surrounding the CPSIA.
About the ATVA:
The ATVA, sister organization of the American
Motorcyclist Association, is the only national
organization devoted exclusively to fighting for
the rights of ATVers. More members mean more clout
to fight to protect your right to ride. To join
the ATVA, call (800) ATVA-JOIN, or go to www.ATVAonline.com.
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Fighting
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All Terrain Vehicle Association
P.O. Box 800
Pickerington, OH 43147-0800 |
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