FAIRFAX, VA
(September 26, 2008) -- The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
today announced they are working on an
action plan to address Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) requirements that were issued Monday, September 22 for the
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies (laboratories) to
test children’s products for lead content.
The CPSC will require
laboratories wanting to test children’s products to demonstrate that they can
follow recently-issued CPSC test methods for analyzing lead paint in children’s
products and to become registered third party laboratories through the CPSC.
For a laboratory to be eligible for this registration, the requirements specify
that laboratories must be accredited by organizations that are part of an ILAC
Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
AIHA has demonstrated
compliance with all applicable international standards, and will be part of an ILAC
MRA in the coming months. While pursuing ILAC MRA status, AIHA is committed to
doing everything possible to protect the business
interests of its laboratory customers and to create opportunities for
laboratories accredited by AIHA to immediately become registered third party
laboratories accredited for testing to CPSC methods.
AIHA has been a leader in the
area of laboratory accreditation since 1974, and, under its Environmental Lead
Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELLAP), AIHA has a formal agreement with the
Environmental Protection Agency to accredit laboratories performing analysis of
lead in environmental samples including paint, soil, dust wipes and air.
AIHA is one of
the largest international associations serving the needs of occupational and
environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals in industry, government,
labor, academic institutions, and independent organizations.
AIHA Will Ensure That its Labs Can Register as CPSC Third Party Labs