FAIRFIELD, N.J. -- SGS North America Inc. today announced a major expansion of its juvenile products testing services at the company's flagship U.S. lab in Fairfield, N.J. The lab can now provide safety testing for compliance with 20 current ASTM standards covering juvenile products from baby bouncers and booster seats to toddler beds and toy chests.

The services expansion gives juvenile products manufacturers, retailers, importers and distributors a new domestic testing resource to ensure compliance with ASTM standards both in the factory and on store shelves. It also positions SGS to apply for certification of its Fairfield facility as a third-party testing lab for juvenile products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) as each relevant ASTM standard is added to the law, making third-party testing mandatory.

SGS's new juvenile products testing services have already passed audits for expansion of the lab's ISO 17025 accreditation, a prerequisite for CPSIA-related certification by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. The Fairfield facility has been certified for other CPSIA testing, including testing of children's products for the presence of lead and phthalates, for several years.

The expanded focus on juvenile products testing is part of a major new SGS global initiative spurred by a tightening of relevant safety requirements in the U.S. and EU. The company is also preparing to add or expand juvenile products testing services at global lab locations including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taiwan, France and the United Kingdom.

"In the last few years, juvenile products have accounted for a significant portion of recalls in the U.S. and EU. In the last three months in the U.S. alone, there have been recalls on bunk beds, playpens, cribs, strollers and bassinets. Yet very few labs are qualified to test juvenile products, and there is going to be a surge in testing needs as new regulations are phased in over the next few years," said Piyush Shah, Toy and Juvenile Products Lab Manager of SGS North America Consumer Testing Services.

"By increasing our child care equipment and children's furniture testing services, we are helping to ensure that there is sufficient testing capacity in the industry," Shah noted. "With our global lab network, manufacturers and others now have SGS's world-class testing resources in both sourcing and destination markets to comply with safety regulations anywhere in the world."

About SGS Consumer Testing Services

SGS Consumer Testing Services, a division of the SGS Group, is the world's leading verification, testing and certification company. The company's comprehensive testing, product inspection, process assessment and technical services cover the entire supply chain from product development to retailing for electrical products, wireless products, soft line products, hard line products and food products. SGS' global network and expertise provide a single consolidated source that can help manufacturers, suppliers and retailers reduce risk, improve efficiency and product quality, and ensure compliance to both national and international standards. Parent company SGS Group has more than 64,000 employees and over 1,250 offices and laboratories in 140 countries.

SOURCE SGS North America Inc.