CPSIA Vs Everyone Else…

Wow.. you want to hit the economy? No problem.. heeeeeeeeeeere’s CPSIA!!

The new improved regulations that are set to go into effect on Feb 10 are causing a stir among small and micro businesses.. and rightfully so.

You can read the law here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf

In a nutshell all manufacturers of items for children under the age of 12 are required to get third party testing of their finished items for lead and phthalates. The allowable amount is less than 600 ppm and this amount will lower over time until 3 years from now it is suppose to be less than 100ppm, so long as it is technically feasible.

This is fine for big companies who have the money to get this testing done. We will probably not even know the difference where they are concerned.. where it will hurt is the small mom and pop operations that make toys and other items for children.

The politicians keep saying that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and then they vote for these types of regulations that are nearly impossible for the small businesses to meet!

Moms who are crafters who make items on the side to help meet the gaps in their family budgets will no longer be able to do so because the cannot afford to get the items tested.

The fun thing is the law essentially calls for multiple tests of the same item. The manufacturer who makes the beads will have to have the beads tested, then the person who uses the beads to make an item will have to have the finished item tested.. then the person distributing the item made with the beads will also have to have it tested..

There’s a hole in the bottom of the sea… there’s a hole in the bottom of the sea…

You get what I mean.

There is also a problem when it comes to resale shops, your local thrift store, Goodwill etc… The CPSC attempted to clarify the issue concerning resellers with this statement:

‘The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties. ‘

WHAT RESALE SHOP IS GOING TO RISK IT?

I can totally see them taking the easy way out and not carrying children’s items at all. Where does that leave us? As the mother of 4 children I surely hope that my local thrift stores are brave! I depend on these places.. and I surely don’t look forward to buying all my children’s clothing new!!

I’ve even heard panic stricken talk of people making clandestine nightly exchanges of children’s items in back alleys to avoid ‘the man’. Which isn’t all that absurd considering not so long ago a local Amish man was prosecuted for giving an undercover USDA officer a drink of raw milk, because he asked for it!

Again.. some things you can do!

1. Write to your Congressional and Senate representative. Tell them how  this law is effecting you!
2. Go to the source. The CPSC has opened up for comments.. GO COMMENT
3. Go to Change.org and vote, help bring this issue to the attention of the new administration!
4. Go to the website of the Handmade Toy Alliance. They have some great information and action steps that you can take and a great sample letter you can use when contacting your representatives!