SchoolArts - May/June 2011

What Is the

The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) is a nonprofit, international association of manufacturers of art, craft, and other creative materials. Since 1940, ACMI has sponsored a certification program for children’s art materials, certifying that these products are nontoxic and meet voluntary standards of quality and performance. Today, ACMI certifies not only children’s art materials, but adult art materials as well.

Certification Seals

ACMI’s certification seals inform consumers that products bearing the seals conform to federal and state art material labeling laws. Under the U.S. Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA), all art materials sold in the U.S. must be evaluated by a qualified toxicologist for chronic toxicity, their ability to cause chronic illness such as cancer; and be labeled, if hazardous, to provide health and cautionary information and safe-use instructions. The Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) already required manufacturers to evaluate and label for acute toxicity. ACMI’s certification program covers both acute and chronic toxicity concerns.

Triarco Arts & Crafts
School Arts
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SA900T

Product Evaluation

ACMI’s certification program has received the endorse-
ment of experts in the field of toxicology and is recog-
nized as the leading authority on art and craft materials.
All products in the ACMI program undergo extensive
toxicological evaluation and testing before they are
granted the right to bear the ACMI certification seals.
A number of factors are taken into account in the prod-
uct evaluation process, including each ingredient and
s quantity, possible adverse interaction with other
gredients, the product’s size and packaging, potential
cute and chronic harm to any part of the human body,
ossible allergic reaction, how a product is commonly
sed and misused, and U.S. national and state labeling
gulations.
ACMI’s AP Seal identifies those products that have
een evaluated in our program and found to be nontoxic,
hich means that they contain no materials in suffi-
ent quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to
ause acute or chronic health problems. ACMI’s CL Seal
identifies those products that have been evaluated in our
program and require a health warning and/or labeling
for safe use. ACMI currently has over 200 members and
has certified more than 60,000 art material formula-
tions. Of these certified materials, 100% of the chil-
dren’s products and 85% of those meant for adult artists
are certified as nontoxic.

Ask Us

Be sure to look for the ACMI Seals when purchasing art supplies so you will know the product has been evaluated by a qualified toxicologist for both acute and chronic hazards.

If you have questions about ACMI’s certification program, or the safe use of art and craft materials; or if you need more specific information about ingredients, or have other safety questions, please contact us or visit our website at www.acminet.org. A list of ACMI-certified products can be found on our website. To receive a copy of ACMI’s informational CD, please e-mail your request to debbieg@acminet.org.