CPSIA Testing with PufferPrint

What is CPSIA?

If you’re publishing a children’s book in the United States, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act). This law, passed in 2008, regulates products intended for children 12 years of age or younger. It sets safety standards to limit toxic substances such as lead and phthalates in children’s products and requires testing by a CPSC-accepted accredited laboratory to ensure those standards are met.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Compliance with CPSIA regulations and other safety requirements depends on various factors specific to your book and its intended audience. We recommend consulting a qualified attorney or compliance expert to determine whether your book requires safety testing to meet CPSIA or other applicable regulations. PufferPrint is not responsible for ensuring your book’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.

Are Books Subject to CPSIA Testing?

Printed books, particularly those made with traditional offset printing methods, are generally considered safe and compliant with CPSIA guidelines. In 2011, the CPSIA was amended to exempt “ordinary books” from the testing and certification requirements. An “ordinary book” just means a book that is printed on paper or cardboard with inks or toners and bound and finished using conventional methods.

That means that for most of the books we print, no testing is required by the CPISA.

There are 2 types of children’s books that still may require testing:

1. If your book has “inherent play value”. Examples of this would be books bath books, touch and feel books, or books with built in or removeable toy components such as a rattle or plastic magnifying glass.

2. If your book is intended for children 3 years old or younger (e.g. board books)

Features such as padded covers, foil stamps, fabrics and vinyl materials (for touch and feel books), metal or plastic coil bindings (for spiral notebooks), batteries and music boxes, interactive elements such as pop-ups or pull tabs, and sticker sheets may also trigger the need for individual testing of your children’s book.

Are PufferPrint’s Books CPSIA Compliant?

Yes, all books printed by PufferPrint meet CPSIA and CE (Conformité Européenne) standards, meaning they are manufactured using safe, non-toxic materials, including soy-based inks and FSC-certified paper. In fact, the chances of any traditional offset-printed book not meeting CPSIA standards are extremely low. Modern day book binding materials have almost zero risk for contamination from lead, phthalates, or other harmful substances.

While we have never had a book fail a safety test, you may still need to have your book individually tested, depending on the target audience, the materials it’s made of, and where you plan to sell it.

Do You Need to Have Your Book Tested?

If your book is intended for young children (3 and younger) and you plan to distribute it through major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, you may need to provide a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) that includes third-party CPSIA testing results .

As previously mentioned, it’s always best to speak to an attorney or compliance expert if you’re unsure about CPSIA testing requirements for your book.