Making jewelry and selling it sounds like a perfect side hustle. And it can be. But if you’re using common craft materials like metal findings, charms, or anything with a shiny coating, you might be working with lead or nickel without even knowing it — and that matters legally.
Here’s the part most people find out too late: the federal government treats products made for children under 12 differently from everything else. Under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), children’s products containing more than 100 parts per million (ppm) of lead are restricted — a limit that was tightened from 300 ppm when the law was updated in 2011. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a big company or a teenager selling on Etsy — the law applies either way.
The part that catches people off guard is the testing requirement. Section 102 of the CPSIA requires third-party testing for certain children’s products before they can be legally sold. That means you can’t just eyeball it or assume your materials are fine. Some products need to be tested by an accredited lab, not just checked with a home kit. There’s also a related requirement: sellers of children’s products generally need to issue a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) based on that testing.
One important note for small or handmade sellers: the CPSIA does include a limited exemption for small batch manufacturers, which may reduce — but does not eliminate — some testing and certification obligations. Whether you qualify depends on your sales volume and product type. Check directly with the CPSC to find out where you stand.
Speaking of home kits — the EPA and CPSC have both looked into whether commercial lead test kits actually work reliably on things like toy jewelry and children’s products. The short answer: they’re not always accurate enough to be your only line of defense.
So what does this mean for you practically?
If you’re selling to adults only, the rules are less strict — but lead and nickel concerns don’t disappear entirely, and it’s still worth knowing what’s in your materials.
If anything you’re selling could end up on or near a child — think hair clips, bracelets, necklaces marketed as cute or playful — you’re in children’s product territory and the testing requirements kick in.
The safest move before you start selling is to know exactly what’s in your materials. Ask your supplier for safety data sheets. Look for components that are explicitly labeled lead-free and nickel-free. And if you’re serious about selling to or near kids, look into what the CPSC says about third-party testing labs and Children’s Product Certificates — that’s a conversation worth having before you list a single item.