Smooth Industries Products Comply with NEW CPSIA Lead Requirements
March 15, 2009 12:24pm
“It was important to me that we take immediate action in regards to the latest test requirements under the CPSIA” says company founder and president Mike Koger. “Smooth Industries has created a niche in the motorcycle industry, not only as the leader in Officially Licensed Apparel and Accessories, but more specifically products geared towards kids. This obviously affects a large portion of our product line and it was imperative that we provide our retail partners and loyal customers the results they were looking for as quickly and as complete as possible”, continued Koger.
Smooth Industries’ strong compliance to the regulations is important because the new standards in force are much more strict than they have been in the past. The new CPSIA is aimed at further reducing children's exposure to lead. A key component of the CPSIA is that consumer products which are intended for children 12 and under cannot contain lead that holds more than 600 parts per million in any accessible part. As many Motocross enthusiasts have already discovered, this has had an enormous economic impact on the industry. Testing and possibly modifying products will be quite costly for the motocross apparel and accessories companies.
Thus what started out as an act more geared towards safety proofing toys, apparel, and other accessories, has now somehow managed to include strict regulations on motorcycles and atv’s for kids ages 12 and younger. In fact, the Motorcycle Industry Council predicts this could lead to a $1 BILLION loss in economic value in 2009, for the entire industry. This all at a time when motorcycle dealers are already feeling the pinch of the downturned economy.
There is also a Guidance for complying with Phthalates requirements included in the CPSIA which states that children's toys and child care articles cannot contain more that 0.1% of six phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DnOPA) regardless of when they were manufactured (Phthalates are a group of chemicals; oily, colorless liquids that are used among other things to make vinyl and other plastics soft and flexible), meaning that everything that is now in stock, regardless of when it was manufactured, is required to meet these new, stricter guidelines.
“We are happy to have this behind us, however, what is important now is to work towards ending the ban on the sale and manufacture of youth model ATV’s and motorcycles”, says Koger. “Motocross is truly a family sport and this ban is not only troublesome for the industry but it is flawed for the young kids the CPSC are trying to protect since this will only encourage them to jump on larger sized motorcycles and risk serious injury. It is our hope that the CPSIA will re-work the ban before too much damage is done to the industry and to motocross enthusiasts young and old”.
About Smooth:
Smooth Industries LLC is the leader in Officially Licensed Motocross apparel and accessories using images and the likeness of the sports biggest names including Jeremy McGrath, Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, Brian Deegan, Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Rockstar Makita Suzuki and more. It is our goal to provide quality motocross themed products for fans of all ages. By giving them fresh and innovative designs to express their passion for not only their favorite riders and teams but the sport itself, we continue to aid in the overall growth in the sport of motocross. For more information, please visit our website at www.smoothindustries.com
Here are some quick links to background information and ways you can help reverse this decision and support your sport:
• Contact your representatives in Congress by using the Take Action button in the Issues and Legislation section of the AMA website.
• Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) directly to encourage them to exclude youth model OHVs here.
• Click here for a page that includes suggested copy for a letter you can send to the CPSC.
• Read the AMA press release on this issue here.
• Read the AMA's comments to the CPSC here.
• Click here to download a PDF version of the CPSIA.
