Since some silkscreen inks have phthalates, do I test my tees?
While it is known in the screen printing industry that some inks do contain phthalates, a product must be tested for phthalates only if it falls into one of the two categories cited by the CPSIA: a toy intended for a child 12 or younger, or a “child care article” intended for children 3 and younger.
This means, for example, that silkscreen t-shirts meant to be worn as clothing, not part of a sleepwear set, for children of all ages do not fall under the phthalate testing requirement.
For more information, please refer to the CPSIA Section 108.
Check very carefully on this one. I was told that onesies and the like, for babies are considered sleepwear by CPSIA, and so need to be tested for phthalates.
This post deals specifically with a baby or child’s t-shirt and not a baby or toddler’s snapsuit (aka as a “onesie” but that is Gerber’s registered trademark). There is still additional research to be done around a snapsuits and whether they fall under the phthalate testing provision. Once we learn more about it, we will provide information in a separate post.
It is my understanding from CPSC staff that a snapsuit is only considered sleepwear if it is sold as such – that is, if it wold also be subject to flamambility requirements (unless intended for children under 9 months, which are exempt from sleepwear requirements). So a product sold as a sleepsack, intended for children under 3 years, must be tested for phthalates, but not a generic onesie.