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Toy Safety Messages from Our Suppliers!
Our suppliers regularly test their products thoroughly to make sure that they are safe for children, both in the design of the product and the materials that are used to make them. They test to make sure that there is no lead in the products to ensure they meet applicable US regulatory safety standards.
In recent months, the discovery of low levels of lead in some paint finishes has resulted in a number of toy recalls. Those recalls are product-and company-specific and should be directed to the companies involved. For more information on the recalls, visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission online at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html.
Feel free to email us at info@woodentoysplus.com with any additional questions you may have.
To make certain that the toy you're purchasing is made in the USA please look at the SKU number. If it starts with BK, DM, FS, JY, LC, ML, Nilo, WZ, or has JC (e.g., 0654JC, 0071JCWW003), you can be sure it is manufactured by American companies which are guided by strict child safety and environmental rules.
Below are a few of our toy safety letters issued by our suppliers:
Safety Letter from KidKraft
August 16, 2007
Dear Parent:
I would like to assure you that KidKraft’s products are not affected by the recent safety recalls involving lead in paint and magnets. KidKraft does not use the factories involved in these incidents. Our products are designed and tested to meet strict safety requirements for children’s products.
We regularly test our products to ensure they meet applicable US regulatory safety standards which include 16 CFR 1500 Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) for mechanical hazards and flammability and 16 CFR 1303 ban of lead-containing paint (CPSC and CPSA). In addition, we test to the soluble heavy metals content requirements and mechanical hazards of ASTM F-963, which is the standard consumer safety specification on toy safety.
(CFR = Code of Federal Regulations, CPSC = Consumer Product Safety Commission,
CPSA = Consumer Product Safety Act, ASTM = American Society for Testing and Materials)
KidKraft is committed to safety and quality of our children’s wooden furniture and toys. You have my commitment that KidKraft remains vigilant in ongoing testing and auditing to deliver products you have come to trust.
Thank you for your continued support.
Steven Z. Lampert
President
Safety Letter from Maxim Enterprise, Inc.
Aug. 8, 2007
Dear Valued Customers,
This is to inform you that in light of recent recalls of train sets by Thomas & Friends/RC2 and various children’s toys by Fisher-Price/Mattel, both due to excessive contents of lead in the surface coating/paint; we, Maxim Company (Taiwan) Ltd., are specifically taking extra steps to review our work environment and have re-done every appropriate test on the materials we are currently using. We are taking these extra steps to see if any contaminations may have been unintentionally induced. To our delight, we have found that this has NOT happened and our added precaution have paid off.
Lead and other heavy metals have always been one of the major focus points under our regular surveillance program. Our standard practice are as follow:
1. We demand, every six (6) months, a lab-test-report for each product/color of all chemicals & plastics we purchased from our qualified suppliers.
2. In addition, we select random samples from our inventory for a third party lab to test every quarter.
3. When it comes to our end products, the toys we deliver to you have an unbiased third-party test-report certifying this particular type/model meets respective toy standards and were voluntarily submitted for this process. (When requested we also submit our products for retailer specific testing to make sure we adhere to your standards).
We are currently intensifying our quality assurance in addition to the above measures by testing heavy metals to 100% level, i.e. every batch of chemicals & plastics we receive. This is done so that there is no chance of a potential hazard making its way through our manufacturing process.
To ensure that contamination is not possible within our facility, we require our entire production line to pay strict attention to all safety regulations which are also firmly regulated by our Quality Assurance Dept. In addition, to execute our environmental safety standards, our Auditing Dept. is assigned to keep a watchful eye over production so that regulations are being observed without compromise. Our recent self audits have proven to be very successful.
The goal of Maxim is to create a safe and imaginative environment for children everywhere. Our top priority has been to design toys that are safe, and superior in quality. For more than 40 years we have been bringing exceptional products and services to our customers, and are determined to continually provide you with our exceptional integrity and service.
Sincerely & truly
David S. L. Chai
Chairman
Guang Sheng Metal & Plastic Products Co., Ltd.
Maxim Company (Taiwan) Ltd.
Chuck Millington
President
Maxim Enterprise, Inc.
Division of Maxim (Taiwan) Ltd.
Safety Message from Wild Zoo
All Wild Zoo products are manufactured with little old Oregon trees, lumber mills, and our family labor. Not many can say that. Even our water base paint is from Oregon. No Chinese imports!!!
Safety Message from Made In Montana Wood Toys
Because of the recent China toy recalls, we want to assure you that all of our toys are made by Don in Stevensville MT. The colored pieces are a waterbase, child safe toy enamel applied by a factory in the United States. All of our wood comes from sustainable forests in the United States. The oiled finish we use is also on the "safe substances" list.
An Important Note About Safety from Levels of Discovery
An Important Note About Safety
In recent months there have been many warnings issued regarding the potential dangers of unsafe product, especially that which is produced in China. At Levels of Discovery we take these matters very seriously and want to share with you our safety standards and procedures:
1. We produce our product in a single factory in China where we are virtually the only customer. Therefore, the standards are our standards and are rigorously upheld and followed by the factory's management and staff. Prior to founding Levels of Discovery, I had been doing business with this factory for fifteen years and it continues to have an excellent and unblemished quality and safety record.
2. All of our products are tested by an independent, 3rd party, internationally recognized testing laboratory. They conduct all required and recommended testing as developed by the CPSC (US agency) and other regulatory agencies. No product is allowed into production until all tests have been passed and I have received the full, detailed report.
3. Our paint is continuously re-certified to ensure compliance with all standards for lead or heavy metal content.
As we have said before, "We treat our products like they are being made for our own children!" In fact, the entire Levels of Discovery team owns and regularly gives our products to family and friends. I promise you, as the owner and CEO, that we always have and will continue to take the design, quality and safety of our products very seriously. We want you to be satisfied and comfortable with your Levels of Discovery purchases, so if you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Jeff Hutsell
Owner/Founder and CEO
Levels of Discovery
Important Safety Message from
Alex
Thank you for your interest in ALEX toys. We appreciate your concern, especially considering the recent recalls for lead and magnets in children's products, and products in general that come from China.
Please be reassured that we take safety very seriously. We test each of our products thoroughly to make sure that they are safe for children, both in the design of the product and the materials that are used to make them. We test to make sure that there is no lead in the products.
Most of our toys come from factories that we have been doing business with for many years, and they are partners with us in ensuring the high quality of our products.
The toy industry works continuously to strengthen our rigorous testing and inspection procedures and ensure safe toys. While no one likes to see recalls, the industry’s ability to identify problems and recall products is one of the safety valves of the process. The recent recalls are product- and company-specific and do not reflect the fundamental safety of the toys on the shelves. All questions specifically related to those recalls should be directed to the companies involved. For more information about general toy safety, please see the Toy Industry Association web site at http://www.toy-tia.org
I hope this helps reassure you and we look forward to your continued patronage.
Drew Metz
Director of Product Quality and Engineering
Safety Message from Maple Landmark
American Made to American Standards
While much is being made of the dangers of imported products, there are alternatives. We craft a wide range of wooden toys, games, and gifts made right here in Vermont, USA. We follow American standards of product safety, employee safety, and environmental protection. The shortcuts of doing it any other way are not what Maple Landmark is about.
Product Safety and Quality
The majority of our products are toys and we take toy safety seriously. On the technical side, we follow both the US Consumer Product Safety Commission rules and the voluntary standards ASTM F-963. These guidelines govern small parts, sharp points, chemical makeup, and many other aspects to avoid hazards.
Our efforts do not stop there. We strive to produce product that will last for generations. This means going beyond minimum guidelines. Everyone has experienced the toy that broke the day after Christmas. That probably isn't a lack following official guidelines but it is from a lack of concern for overall quality. For example, a softwood block is safe, a hard maple block is superior.
Finishes
There is great concern about the components of finishes. We hear about things like lead in the paint of imported Chinese products. Again there are standards that are supposed to be followed. At Maple Landmark, we use a variety of finishes, depending on the specific product line. Some products have no finish, while others have whey- or beeswax-based coatings. We also use urethanes and lacquers, depending on the required appearance. Lead is illegal as a component in consumer coatings in the United States and we've occasionally had third-party testing for lead and other heavy metals, just to be sure we are getting what we expect from our suppliers.
As with our other materials, our finishes are purchased as locally as possible. Nearly all are produced in Vermont, by people we know and have worked with for many years. If you would like more information about the finish on specific products, feel free to contact us.
Age Grading
Just as we have an obligation to produce safe product, it is always important to remember that appropriate use goes hand-in-hand with safe design and construction. Whenever necessary, we mark our products with the intended age of the child who may be using it. Giving a more advanced product to a younger child, no matter how "advanced" you perceive that child to be, can be a hazard. A marking of age 3+ is typically an indication of small parts hazards—it could be a problem for younger children who may be putting things in their mouth. Always monitor younger children when they are playing around older friends and siblings. What is okay for one child may not be okay for the next.
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