High Levels of Cadmium Raise Import Standards to Help with Health Risk

American Shipper magazine reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection will enforce stricter standards with products that contain metal. Numerous toys and women’s hand bags have been pulled from shelves after testing reveals dangerously high levels of cadmium.

Sufficient exposure from regularly sucking or biting jewelry with high cadmium content can hinder brain development in children. Wal-Mart has pulled several jewelry items after reports indicated cadmium. Furthermore, H&M has taken action after some of its hand bags had been tested and came back positive for this type of metal. The concern is that the metal can rub off on hands and can get in the mouths of children. H&M will enforce higher lead standards in the future.

Import safety has become a greater priority for CBP following recent scares of tainted products from China and other countries. CBP and CPSC inspectors are co-located at several locations now, including at a container examination station near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

For more information about the American Shipper article.