19 November 1998: The Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators (SGCD) announced an aggressive customer awareness programme at its annual show and seminar in September, in order to minimize future chanc…
19 November 1998: The Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators (SGCD) announced an aggressive customer awareness programme at its annual show and seminar in September, in order to minimize future chances that “misinformed” media representatives, public officials or product buyers will misunderstand the nature of heavy metals, decorated glass and ceramicware. The programme will focus on decorators“ compliance with federal, state and voluntary industry standards that insure the safety and environmental friendliness of decorated products. In a company press release, SGCD said it will continue to work closely with officials of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who enforce federal leaching requirements and with California officials who monitor that state“s Proposition 65 rules governing heavy metal usage. Additionally, SGCD will work with the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse and with the State of Minnesota to insure that decorators are not unnecessarily handicapped by state legislation. “Such cooperation demonstrates the decorating industry“s desire to produce wares that are both commercially attractive and unquestionably safe,” said SGCD President Dave Stanton. The SGCD Board of Directors said it believes that all decorators are threatened by negative publicity generated when reporters “discover” lead used in decorations and utilize inappropriate tests to fabricate a public health threat. To simply state that no person has ever been poisoned by commercially-made glass or ceramicware is not an adequate defense when confronted by such publicity, according to the Board. Negative publicity and other threats to the industry have increased dramatically in the past two years even though decorators have been producing wares that leach far below levels considered safe by FDA and states that monitor heavy metal leaching, said SGCD. Often, such publicity is based on “filing” tests, where a lab unfamiliar with appropriate testing procedures for leaching will file the decoration from the outside surface of glassware and concoct a health threat by noting the presence of lead. SGCD will specifically address this critical issue by publishing and widely distributing a list of test labs that are familiar with appropriate glass and ceramicware tests. Buyers who are ofien first contacted by media representatives can then quickly refer a reporter to a lab that can impartially and credibly analyze the items in question. SGCD will also produce a fact sheet for buyers of decorated items, which will focus on the importance of proper testing and cooperation with decorators to ensure that the objects are tested before sale. A series of fact sheets covering specific regulatory issues will also be available to SGCD members for distribution to their customers. In addition, SGCD will develop an educational programme that can be presented at tableware, housewares, promotional product and other shows where glass and ceramicware buyers gather. Recognizing that any testing programme is totally dependent on the qualifications of lab personnel, SGCD will design another seminar for lab technicians who may be unaware of the nature of the decorating process and why certain tests are inappropriate. SGCD will also continue to work with magazines that are circulated to buyers of decorative items, to publish articles to minimize conflision related to heavy metals and glass and ceramicware. SGCD will also produce press packages that member companies can utilize if confronted by a media represenative who accuses them of producing unsafe wares. Finally, SGCD said it will focus on other measures to ensure that members follow best practices related to decoration in the lip and rim area, correct material selection for specific substrates, regular testing, and firing at appropriate temperatures. A further review will also be made of self-enforcement and product certification programmes that could further insulate decorators from potential problems. SGCD is the association of companies that decorate glass and ceramic products and the companies that provide products and services to decorators. Due to its long-standing efforts to keep members up-to-date on all laws and regulations affecting decorated ware, SGCD also attracts major retailers and importers to its membership. Members are located in 21 countries, and they decorate products including glass and ceramic tableware, promotional mugs, collector plates, art pieces, flat glass panels, decorative tiles and other types of ware.