At The WSA Show on Friday, Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) president Peter Mangione addressed the shifting requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Information Act of 2008 (CPSIA) in his seminar, New Safety Rules for Children’s Shoes. Over 100 children’s retailers and manufacturers made up the standing room only crowd.

FDRA president Peter Mangione

While many hoped that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) recent stays in the enforcement of stricter rules regarding phthalate and lead testing might bode well for their businesses, Mangione warned that the CPSIA should not be ignored. “All of the problems of the last two years, with reports of lead being found in some imported products, have made it hard for anyone to talk reason and fix this in a reasonable way,” he said.

After explaining what constituted a children’s shoe (while it currently is defined as any item intended for use for a child 12 or younger, the definition may ultimately be determined by size), he noted several exemptions and changes the FDRA had proposed to the CPSC on behalf of the footwear industry. He also addressed how things might further change under President Barack Obama. “At least three new commissioners will be sent up, and due to that the commission will likely be more aggressive in enforcement.” And for anyone hoping to sell non-compliant product they currently have in stock, Mangione said simply, “Destroy it. You cannot export it.”

After the seminar, Mangione answered questions from the audience, many of whom were brand representatives wondering how to handle rigorous testing requirements. “I think the sector is making a good faith effort to understand and comply with the rules,” he said. “But there’s no question there’s a lot of confusion.”

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