Congress approves bill to exempt youth motorcycles, ATVs from lead law

“Both houses of Congress have voted to exempt youth ATVs and motorcycles from the lead law that essentially bans the sale of those machines at the end of the year.

The legislation, H.R. 2517, categorically excludes powersports vehicles from the lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The bill goes to President Obama for signature.

“For more than two years, the powersports industry and its riders have urged Congress to categorically exclude youth dirtbikes and ATVs from the CPSIA’s lead content provisions,” said Paul Vitrano, general counsel of the MIC. “We are most grateful that our collective voices finally have been heard. We wish to thank Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) for sponsoring the bill and Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) for leading the effort to enact the categorical exclusion.”

The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. It also requires all children’s products undergo periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for implementing the law.

The CPSIA was designed to ban small toys with high lead content. But because of broadly written language in the law, it has been interpreted to apply to all products for kids 12 and under, including dirtbikes, ATVs, bicycles, clothing and books.

“This is excellent news for families around the nation who enjoy responsible motorized recreation,” said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO, after the House initially passed the bill on Monday. “It is vital that a lead-law exemption for OHVs be signed into law not only because it will once again allow families to enjoy riding together, but also so that children aren’t forced to ride adult-sized machines that they may not be able to operate safely.””

 

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Source: Dealernews.com

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