There has been a few questions on the quality and safety of U.S. Divers snorkel gear. This letter was released in 2009 from Aqua Lung, who U.S. Divers is part of the Aqua Lung family. We thought we would share.
For the last few years, there has been many news-worthy stories published around the world with regard to product safety and the use of unsafe materials in product manufacturing, especially as it relates to childrens products. As a result, the new material standards and laws have been implemented to ensure safer products and to help restore consumer confidence.
We at Aqua Lung want to take this opportunity to ensure all of our customers that Aqua Lung takes product safety very seriously. We have taken many steps to ensure compliance to new standards and laws. To guarantee the highest standards our products are regularly tested for content and quality of materials, as well as for performance and function.
Our goal at Aqua Lung is to unify our materials and manufacturing standards to meet or exceed the toughest worldwide standards and successfully deliver products that consistently pass the various tests for material content and the product performance.
The vast majority of products distributed and sold by Aqua Lung are designed and intended for use by adults and children over the age of 12 years. Nonetheless, Aqua Lung is, and will continue to be in compliance with all aspects of the newly enacted CPSIA for all of our products. The list below is not comprehensive, but is provided as an overview of the critical dates and regulations of the CPSIA that Aqua Lung complies with.
November 12, 2008
General Conformity Certificates became required for consumer products subject to a standard, ban, rule or regulation under the jurisdiction of the CPSC and which are manufactured on or after November 12, 2008. The certificates indicate compliance with all effective standards, bans, rules and regulations under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These certificates will be made available by Aqua Lung to all retailers and distributors.
December 21, 2008
Third-party testing at a CPSC accredited lab for lead paint and surface coatings in accordance with 16 CFR 1303 for childrens products is required effective December 21, 2008. The lab will provide testing reports certifying that the products meet the applicable provisions. Compliance with these provisions, after December 21, 2008, is indicated on the General Confirmity Certificates.
February 10, 2009
With few exceptions, Aqua Lung does not design, manufacture or distribute toys or child care products. Therefore, the vast majority of our products are not subject to the new phthalate regulation under section 108 of the CPSIA. Nonetheless, we specify that all of our products are to be manufactured to meet the phthalate requirements indicated below.
Phthalates: Childrens toys or child care articles manufactured after on or after February 10, 2009 with concentrations of 3P phthalates in excess of 1000 ppm (parts per million) or childrens toys or child care articles that are mouthable (as defined by the CPSIA) with concentrations of 6P phthalates in excess of 1000 ppm are banned.
Lead: The lead content ban takes effect for the sale of childrens products iwth concentrations of lead in substrates in excess of 600 ppm.
Small Parts: All new advertisements (including in catalogs and online) for childrens products subject to small parts regulations must contain cautionary warnings similar to those posted on product packaging. (Any materials already printed before February 10, 2009 may be distributed until Auguest 2009 without such additional warnings.)
August 2009
Childrens product must contain tracking labels or date codes designed to identify products in the event of a recall.
Ban takes effect on sale of childrens products with concentrations of lead in substrates in excess of 300 ppm and in lead paint in excess of 90 ppm and thrid party testing required for certification.
California
In addition to, the independent of the above requirements, beginning on January 1, 2009, AB1108 prohibits the sale in California of childrens products with 3P phthalates in concentrations greater than 1000ppm. Although the CPSIA appears to preempt this separate state law, our products are nonetheless compliant.
We trust this statement satisfies your requirement that Aqua Lung is currently, and will be in the future, compliant with all laws and bans that pertain to our products. We appreciate and respect our business partners and have done and will continue to do everything we can to provide the best and safest products possible.
