California tightened cadmium limit in jewelry

California Center for Environmental Health (CEH) recently proposed 65 to 26 according to major retailers may be selling jewelry made in the cadmium content restrictions.

According to the provisions of Proposition 65, consumer goods, food, medicines and other products containing hazardous substances on the list, you must notify the consumer, and the production, import and sale of products in strict law enforcement. Cadmium is a heavy metals and known as carcinogenic, commonly used in plastic manufacturing and metal plating, production of pigments, paints, dyes, printing inks.

Acute cadmium poisoning can cause respiratory damage, chronic cadmium poisoning would cause renal tubular disease, and then to renal failure, can lead to softening of bones (osteoporosis), and other organ damage. Cadmium will be passed on in the food chain by eating into the body through breathing or cause cadmium poisoning. In addition, cadmium-contaminated drinking water can also cause poisoning hazards.

Whereas the hazards of cadmium ,in the European Union, cadmium considering a high risk of carcinogenic substances are included in the list of restricted substances in the REACH Regulation; in the United States, cadmium is restricted into lakes, rivers, pastures and abandoned farmland.

As early as 2010.09.27 California approve SB 929 "Cadmium in Children's Jewelry" motion, the children's jewelry to make the total cadmium content restrictions, the bill makes California the first U.S. legislation to restrict cadmium five states. SB 929 since 2012.01.01 provides that no person shall from the date of production, transportation, sale, sale, or for the purpose of promotion of any parts or materials in cadmium content exceeds 0.03% (300 mg / kg) of children's jewelry.

The new limit of cadmium reached agreement requires 26 major retailers (including Saks, Target and The Gap., Etc.) may not be sold since 2011.12.31 date is greater than 300mg/kg total cadmium content of a child or adult jewelry products, but does not include children over the age of six cubic zirconia jewelry, glass, rhinestones, and ceramics.

According to California Proposition 65 law enforcement practices, the cadmium content of the new restrictions will be effective from the date of entry through a rigorous review, market surveillance, consumer feedback and other control channels. Because the settlement agreement, California law enforcement-oriented role, expect other jewelry manufacturers, importers and distributors will also be in accordance with the agreement of the contents of their production, import, sale of products in the cadmium content of more stringent restrictions, which will be domestic California exports to the U.S. jewelry business has brought new challenges.