Feds Look at Lead Testing Costs for Small Businesses

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission ... voted to begin writing a rule to allow manufacturers, big and small, to essentially break the required testing process for lead, lead paint and other potential dangers into parts.

Under the proposed rule, a manufacturer could rely on safety testing performed for the suppliers of buttons, zippers, plastics or other parts of toys, clothing and other products for youngsters — to make sure they meet federal safety limits.

Independent testing would still be required, but it wouldn't necessarily have to be done by the maker of the finished product."

Jennifer C. Kerr reports for the Associated Press May 5, 2010.