One way to find products that contain fewer toxic chemicals is to look for products “Made in USA.” While some foreign products can be less toxic than those made in the USA (particularly some products from Europe and especially from Germany), many many products on USA store shelves com from foreign countries that do not have laws that restrict the use of toxic chemicals.

While most organizations that support “Made in USA” products feel that manufacture of the product by USA labor in a facility in the USA is sufficient to warrant a Made in USA claim, federal and state regulations that apply to claims that products are “Made in USA” don’t agree.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a Made in USA standard that applies if a product makes a “Made in USA” claim. According to the FTC, “Made in USA” means “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America.  That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin.  Products should not contain any – or should contain only negligible – foreign content.”  (http://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/complying-made-usa-standard)

The State of California agrees, requiring that every component of a product be made in the USA.

California law prohibits the sale or offer for sale of any merchandise that is labeled “Made in the USA” or similar words “when the merchandise or any article, unit, or part thereof, has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured, or produced outside of the United States.” (http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=17533.7.)

There is value in purchasing “Made in USA” products that refer only to USA labor and business ownership. This keeps our dollars in the US economy. But USA laborers can very easily assemble toxic materials from other countries. If you are wanting, for example, to avoid products made in China, a “Made in USA” label would be misleading and inaccurate if the materials being used came from China.

I’m in agreement with the Federal and California state law. To me, Made in USA means that the raw materials are sourced in the USA, and processed and assembled in the USA. From beginning to end.

If you are looking for “Made in the USA” products, it’s important to ask if the claim refers to labor, or labor and materials. Manufacturers should know the country of origin of their materials, as well as the source of raw materials and any processing done to them. They should know, but often don’t.

Just be careful when you see “Made in USA” and make sure the materials come from the USA as well as the labor.