Cadmium won't be back

Oct 1, 2010
Attleboro Falls, Mass.—Cadmium won't be back, at least not in high levels in children's jewelry in California.

Earlier this week, trade organization Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) alerted its members that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggger signed into law the state's recently passed legislation regarding cadmium in children's jewelry.

The new law prohibits the manufacturing, shipping and sale of children's jewelry or jewelry components that contain more than 0.03 percent (300 ppm) of cadmium as determined by a total weight test. Children, as defined by California law, are those 6 years old and younger. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Other states to recently pass legislation addressing the use of cadmium in children's jewelry include Connecticut, Illinois and Minnesota. An Associated Press report published earlier this year triggered the slate of cadmium legislation, after the report showed that high levels of cadmium had been detected in children's jewelry purchased from U.S. retailers.

Most of the items were imported from overseas manufacturers, which began adding cadmium as a substitute for lead, which is now severely restricted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The MJSA, a trade association for jewelry makers, designers and related suppliers, is now part of a voluntary group that is working to produce a new Children's Jewelry Safety Standard, which will address the use of all heavy metals, including cadmium, in jewelry for kids, as well as other potential hazards.

MJSA's members-only resources include an updated chart on legislation pertaining to cadmium in jewelry. To obtain a chart, e-mail info@mjsa.org or call (800) 444-6572 or (401) 274-3840.