What does component testing mean?
“Component testing” means testing the components of a product rather than testing an entire finished product. For example, if you make a baby dress using fabric, thread, and a zipper, with component testing you’d test only the fabric, thread, and zipper for lead.
It is currently unclear whether CPSC will allow component testing to be used for CPSIA compliance. Certainly component testing makes sense for products where the manufacturing process is unlikely to introduce lead to the finished product, such as apparel and handmade toys, and for product lines that use the same material in more than one product, such as matching baby slings and nursing pillows. We are still awaiting guidance from the CPSC on this matter.
