ARLINGTON, VA — PCs are not children's products, a trio of industry trade groups told the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and new rules governing materials used in electronics should not be extended to PCs.

Commenting on the recently enacted Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the Information Technology Industry Council, Consumer Electronics Association and IPC argued the new requirements limiting the use of phthalates and lead in products intended for children suffer from a "lack of clarity." 

The new CPSIA regulations require manufacturers to certify compliance with every consumer product shipment. The regulations went into effect Nov. 12 and are said to affects more than 15,000 consumer products used in and around the home, in sports, recreation and schools.

The trade groups said that most electronics devices should not be considered children’s products, even though some are specifically designed for use by minors. In a press release issued by IPC, the trade group said, "Servers, laptop computers, desktop computers and mobile internet devices, are not generally viewed as 'children’s products,' even though they may be used by children from time to time under the supervision of adults."

The submitted comments also said that lead used in electronics devices is inaccessible to children by any reasonably foreseeable use and abuse. IPC asked that the lead limit for accessible component parts for electronic products designed and intended primarily for children under 12 be set at 1,000 parts per million (ppm), in compliance with the RoHS Directive, and that new reporting rules be simplified.

IPC manager of government relations Ron Chamrin said, “We are deeply concerned with the lack of clarity surrounding the requirements for certification.”

Information on the CPSC and CPSIA is available at cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html. IPC’s comments to the CPSC can be viewed at ipc.org/current-GR-issues. 

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