In 2024, the U.S. children's wear market revenue reached $53.78 billion. Children's clothing exported to the United States must meet the flammability standards of the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) and the safety technical regulations of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), as well as special requirements for lead content in children's clothing and textiles, screen printing, small parts, drawstrings, etc.
Children's Clothing Code - Lead in clothing and textiles
Certain parts of textile products, clothing and clothing accessories must comply with the lead content limits and the lead content limits of surface coatings. - Buttons, buttons, metal buttonholes and zippers must comply with the total lead content regulations.
- Painted buttons and buttons, painted zippers, heat transfer printing and screen printing are subject to the ban on lead content in surface coatings.
- Untouchable parts containing lead are exempt
Parts testing.
16 CFR Section 1500.91: lists decisions made by CPSC staff that certain materials do not exceed lead limits; This includes dyed or undyed textiles, non-metallic threads and decorative lace used in children's clothing and fabric products. Third party testing is not currently required.
Children's clothing Regulations - Screen printing
Screen printing - usually considered a surface coating, subject to the upper limit of lead content (90 ppm) of paint and surface coatings.
- Compliance and testing: Laboratory testing of finished products accepted at CPSC; Component testing - Obtain test results or obtain a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) from the printing ink, paint, dye supplier
- Screen printing on pajamas (child care items) for children aged 3 years and under is subject to phthalate regulations
Children's Clothing Code - small parts on clothing
Children's clothing export to the United States inspection report
CPSC Regulations for small parts used on products for children under 3 years of age: Regulations prevent injury or death due to choking.
Children's clothing and accessories: fabrics and buttons are exempt from regulations and testing regulations regarding small parts; Buttons and other buttons need not be used as small parts to test compliance, but should be secure; If a button begins to fall off due to a poor manufacturing problem and poses a considerable product hazard, this possible hazard must be reported to the CPSC.
Children's clothing Code - Pull rope
If the drawstring on a child's coat gets caught or pulled, the child can become fatal or seriously injured as a result of entanglement.
In 2012, the Commission determined that drawstrings on children's outerwear posed a serious product hazard and issued 15(j) under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
Children's outerwear sold in the United States should meet the voluntary safety standard ASTM F-1816, Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Children's Outerwear DrawStrings.
Pull rope - What are the restrictions?
Children's jackets in sizes 2T to 12 are not allowed to have drawstrings on the hood and neck.
The waist cord and back cover cord of the jacket from size 2T to size 16 must meet specific requirements.
The above are special regulations for children's clothing and textile exports to the United States, and children's manufacturers, retailers and cross-border sellers should immediately pay attention to the U.S. government's policy on clothing imports to ensure compliance with the corresponding rules and standards.
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