The (lead wick task group), combining representatives of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the National Candle Association (NCA), met at the Washington Renaissance Hotel on May 5, 2000, during the NCA's Spring Technical Meetings. ASTM requested the meeting of the group, which is charged with the development of a lead content standard for candlewicks; the process is moving forward slowly.

The task group has a two-fold task. First, the committee must define appropriate and acceptable limits for lead content in wicks. Second, the method for determining lead levels must be established and agreed upon. NCA members have initially supported and proposed a level lead standard of 0.1 percent to the task group, but a consensus among task group members has not been reached.

Ralph Scott of the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning believes that his organization "can live with a voluntary standard of 0.1 percent as long as it is enforceable."

Dr. Peter (Lurie) of Public Citizen, as well as other non-task group member consumer advocates would prefer to see a 0 percent standard adopted.

Public Citizen had earlier petitioned the CPSC for a ban on lead core wicks, as well as a recall of all candles containing the wicks. Australia banned the use of lead core wicks in [September] 1999, and there is a voluntary ban on their use among European manufacturers, where paper core wicks have become a suitable replacement.

Although no definitive testing method was agreed upon by the group, the procedure used in the Public Citizen Petition to the CPSC has been suggested. According to Jeb Head of Atkins & Pearce, the Public Citizen model is well researched and makes, "…very conservative assumptions, and  (they) are careful not to miss any significant exposure possibilities."

Wire core wicks have historically been used by American candle manufacturers to sustain the wick's position in deep molten wax pools, and for their ability to keep the wick centered during the burn. According to [one NCA member], smaller manufacturers rely on wire wicks, and will experience difficulty in moving away from them. Although an investigation by CPSC in 1974 found candles with lead wicks did not pose a specific health risk, a voluntary agreement between the CPSC and manufacturers to stop the use of the wicks was agreed upon. More than one wick manufacturer did not adhere to the agreement.

Scott's concerns with enforceability of a voluntary standard are understandable given Atkins & Pearce's reintroduction of lead core wicks to the marketplace in the late seventies (through 1998) despite the voluntary ban. However, due to the voluntary nature of the ban, Atkins & Pearce was not sanctioned. A voluntary standard would be monitored by the CPSC, albeit without the ability to impose sanctions on violators. Should the CPSC's monitoring of a voluntary standard uncover non-compliance, the agency would then develop a mandatory standard carrying the weight of federal law. Marianne McDermott, Executive Vice President of the NCA, believes that a voluntary, industry-wide standard would be the quickest and best way to address the problem as opposed to an outright ban of the lead core wicks.

According to ASTM procedure, consensus must be generated at the task group level. The results are then presented to the F15-45 committee, which has jurisdiction on candle consumer products. Finally, the ASTM proposal is forwarded to the F15 committee, which broadly covers consumer products. At each stage consensus must be reached. For the broader committees a process of presentation, formal comment and response/resolution is required. No new task group meetings have been scheduled at this time. Kris Hatlelid, a CPSC toxicologist, says this is not a process to be measured in "…days or weeks."