U.S. – Maine Adopts Rules Requiring Reporting for Formaldehyde and Phthalates in Certain Children’s Products
Vol. 844 | August 05, 2015
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection adopted two rules designating formaldehyde and four phthalates (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), or diethyl phthalate (DEP)) as priority chemicals under its Safer Chemicals in Children’s Products rules.
Designating a substance as a priority chemical by the Department of Environmental Protection requires reporting, by manufacturers and distributors, when the substance is intentionally added to regulated children’s products.
Following is a summary of the rules:
Formaldehyde:
- Products within scope of the rule: bedding, childcare articles, clothing, cosmetics, craft supplies, footwear, games, jewelry and embellishments, safety seats, occasion supplies, personal accessories, personal care products, school supplies, and toys.
- Information to be reported:
- The name and address of the manufacturer and the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for the manufacturer;
- A description of the manufacturer’s product or products containing formaldehyde, including the overall size of the product and/or the component of the product that contains formaldehyde and whether the product or formaldehyde containing component of the product can be placed in the mouth (if a reportable item is smaller than 5 centimeters in one dimension, it is regarded as mouthable);
- The amount of formaldehyde in each unit of the product reported;
- The function of formaldehyde in the product reported;
- The number of product units sold or distributed in Maine or nationally, and
- Any other information the manufacturer deems relevant to the reporting
Phthalates:
- Products within scope of the rule: clothing, footwear, craft supplies, building & home maintenance products, cosmetics & personal care products, household & commercial cleaning products, household furniture & furnishings, and personal accessories & jewelry.
- Regulated phthalates: BBP, DEP, DBP and DEHP
- Information to be reported:
- The name and address of the manufacturer and the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for the manufacturer;
- A description of the manufacturer’s product or products containing regulated phthalates, including the overall size of the product and/or the component of the product that contains the regulated phthalate and whether the product or regulated phthalate-containing component of the product can be placed in the mouth (if a reportable item is smaller than 5 centimeters in one dimension, it is regarded as mouthable);
- The amount of regulated phthalates in each unit of the product reported;
- The function of regulated phthalates in the product reported;
- The number of product units sold or distributed in Maine or nationally, and
- Any other information the manufacturer deems relevant to the reporting
Reporting Deadline: The manufacturer or distributor of a consumer product that falls within the product category listed above will have to submit relevant reports to the Department of Environmental Protection by December 18, 2015. For products whose sale does not commence until the close of the 180-day reporting period, written notices are required to be submitted to the Department within 30 days of sale in the state of Maine.
The Department of Environmental Protection will also collect a one-time reporting fee intended to cover information management costs. The fee will be determined once all reports have been collected.
References:
- Formaldehyde rule: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/06/096/096c885.docx
- Phthalates rule: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/06/096/096c888.docx
For questions, please contact:
Laxmi Ravikumar
Tel: +1.630.209.9265
Email: laxmi.ravikumar@intertek.com
Pratik Ichhaporia
Tel: +1.312.906.7720
Email: pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com