The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) is an international association of more than 200 art, craft and creative material manufacturers seeking to promote safety in art and creative products through its certification program. Many small companies, as well as large ones, participate in the ACMI product certification program. We are very proud of the fact that nearly a quarter of these companies are long-standing members (20+ years) of ACMI. For over 80 years, the ACMI program for children’s art materials has certified that these products are non-toxic using the AP Seal. In 1982, the program was expanded to include a much broader range of art materials, including adult products, ensuring that they are non-toxic (AP Seal) or carry appropriate health warning labels (CL Seal) where necessary. ACMI-certified product seals (AP Approved Product and CL Cautionary Labeling) indicate that these products have been evaluated by a board-certified toxicologist (medical expert) and are labeled in accordance with federal and state art material labeling laws. Each product in the program undergoes extensive toxicological testing that covers both acute and chronic toxicity concerns before it is granted the right to bear the ACMI certification seal. The ACMI product certification program includes an ongoing review of the latest scientific and regulatory information available to keep the program current. The program also includes a five-year review of product formulations to meet the requirements of the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act.

ACMI’s Toxicology Team 

‍ACMI's toxicology team is composed of experts in art and creative materials evaluations. Duke University's Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (Est. 1970), and Bureau Veritas/Intrinsik (Ext. 1828) conduct reviews against the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act and 16 CFR 1500 for our 200+ members. ACMI also has a Toxicology Advisory Board composed of leading toxicological experts who independently act as a review board on issues of toxicity, analyze the criteria used by ACMI's toxicologists, and make recommendations to ACMI.