Science Kit Makers Battle Feds Over Safety Tests on Paper Clips

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Fox News:

Federal regulators are hard at work making the world a safer place for kids -- starting with the threat posed by toxic paper clips.

Never heard of a toxic paper clip? Neither have the manufacturers of science kits for classrooms across the country.

But they're now locked in a debate with federal officials, who just moved a step closer to requiring costly new safety tests on the components of those kits.

The kit makers warn the requirements could end up mandating pointless tests on components ranging from paper clips to nails to rulers.

"There's never been a problem with lead or anything in any of these products," said Paul Nathanson, spokesman for the HandsOn Science Partnership.