Guidelines for drawstrings on children’s upper outerwear

US consumer product safety

commission is an independent
regulatory agency setup in 1972 .
It’s a voluntary guideline and
ASTM issued a standard (ASTM
F1816-97, std safety specification
for drawstrings on children upper
outerwear in 1997
-Certain parts of EU are more stringent than the US / ny requirements
:
-all size ranges upto 14 are regulated
-drawstrings hanging below the hip , cannot hang below the lower edge of
garment

-drawstrings cannnot protrude from bottom hem of coats , trouser or skirts that
are designed to finish at the ankle
--the std also specifies drawstrings requirement for sleeves and other parts of
the gmt.
--For hood and neck areas , EU standard covers all ages up to 14 years where
as US requirement covers upto to 12 years. .however certain portions of the
US requirement are more stringent . :

--- Only 3 inches of the drawstrings are allowed to extend outside the
drawstrings channel as opposed to 5.5 inches for the EU in the waist areas.
-- for hood and neck areas , the EU allows loop drawstrings for ages 7-14
whereas US does not allow any drawstring for sizes 2T-!2( approx age 10) and
0-16 ( approx 12)
but UK national legislation does not allow drawstrings and cords ( ties) for hood
and neck areas in children “ outerwear with chest msmt not exceeding 44 cm(
upto 13 years)
 In addition to CPSC/ASTM guidelines , ny and wisconsin made rules .. Wis

applies to a broader range of sizes (0-16) than CPSC/ASTM.and NY (2T-12).

ADDITIONALLY , THE NY NEEDS

FOR WAIST AND BOTTOM
DRAWSTRINGS APPLY TO ALL
CHILDREN CLOTHING AS
OPPOSED TO ONLY CHILDREN
UPPER OUTERWEAR FOR
CPSC/ASTM AND WISCOSIN.
CPSC ADVISES THAT PARENTS OR
CAREGIVERS COMPLETELY REMOVE THE HOOD AND
NECK DRAWSTRING FROM ALL CHILDREN UPPER
OUTWEAR , INCLUDING JACKETS AND SWEATSHIRT
SIZED 2T to 12.
 CPSC ADVISES THAT
consumers purchase CHILDREN UPPER
OUTWEAR that has alternative closures such as
snaps,buttons,velcro and elastic.
 Canada ‘s advisory notice
(potential strangulation from
drawstring ‘s on children
outerwear ) mirrors the ASTM
standard (ASTMF1816-97)
WHEN SELLING APPAREL IN THROUGHOUT THE US

AND CANADA

CANADA HAS ADOPTED ASTM F1816-97.However

wiscosin ‘s drawsting need are more stringent more than
that of the CPSC/ASTM AND ANY IN MOST AREAS.
HOW EVER NY ‘S NEED FOR THE WAIST OR BOTTOM
APPLY TO ALL CHILDREN CLOTHING ( NOT JUST
CHILDREN CLOTHING children outerwear as in the
CPSC/ASTM and wiscosin requirement )
therefore its recommended that a combination to include
the most stringent of requirement be followed as below
 All children clothing
hood and neck sizes 0-16 – no
hood/neck drawstring are
allowed.
 All children clothing
waist and bottom sizes 0-16 –
no more than 3 inches of drawstring shall be outside the
when gmt is extended to its
drawstring channel
fullest width.
Toggles ,knots or other attachments shall
not be used at the ends of the drawstring

the drawstring shall be sewn at the midpoint

of the channel so it cannot be completely
pulled out of the channel.
 European nation
In france investigation have shown that
drawstring (DS) cause 2 types of
accidents
The strangulation of young children
when ds is caught in playground.
Eye injuries or dental fractures to
secondary school children when their
hanging ,elastic , hard tipped DS on
their hoods are pulled.
 European commission instituted a
standard (EN 14682:2004, safety of
children clothing- cords and DS on
children clothing specification)
which limits use of DS in children
apparel. This std was adopted as a
national std by member states in
june 2005
 The std was published in the official journal of the
European union (OJEU) 2006. as a result clothing in
compliance with safety needs prescribed by this std are
now presumed to be in compliance with the general safety
need of the general product safety directive (GPSD),
2001/95/EC of the European parliament and of the council
of 3 December 2001 on general product safety.
Publication in the OJEU does not make it a legal need that
clothing must comply. However the GPSD is legal need
implemented in EU and having articles that comply with
harmonized standards such as EN14862 is a way of
demonstrating that the product is safe for aspects covered
by the standard.
Therefore if a product does not comply withEN 14682 , the seller could
be prosecuted for not complying with the requirements of GPSD as this

does
would be considered to be a relevant std. that is if a product
not comply with en 14682 , the seller cannot be
prosecuted for non compliance to EN 14862, but
could be prosecuted for not complying with the
requirements of GPSD as this would be
considered to be a relevant standard and
requirement of EN14862 is a means to ensure a
safe product.
 Uk
• The british 1997 standards BS1907 refers to the following referring
to this regulation ,
• -- forbid DS or decorative ribbons longer than 14 cm on clothing for
children under 3 and prohibits hard buckle tips longer than 5 cm .
Apparel must not have strings- either decorative items or DS-
hanging out of garment back.
• -- sets down exact string msmt according to location of the DS on a
garment. DS cannot exceed 14 cm at the waist when the gmt is fully
loosened. Bottom half DS cannot be longer than 8 cms.
• -- advises spring clips and wide vents. The std forbids use of aglet
likely to increase entrapment (knots or duffel-coat toggle fastening
for instance ) . Standard neck fastenings must be easily detachable
incase of entrapment. neck fastenings must be removable(hence the
recommendation velcro or snap fastenings )
 Specifies that nightwear for children under 3 should not
have hoods because they obstruct the child’s line of view
and hearing. Clothing with hoods must be designed to
avoid said incoveniences. Hoods shd preferably come off

at the slightest pressure.

-- hood cords for children clothing SI1976No -40

of Ireland is very similar to UK regulations .
Therefore products distributed in the UK/Ireland
must be comply with this requirement in addition to
the requirement of EN14682.
 Finland
• Has no regulation. But on nov 1998,
consumer movement issued a press
release for a ban on import of children
apparel with DS around the neck. As kids
suffered. .