New law could wipe out handcrafted toy makers
A new regulation taking effect next month that's intended to guarantee children protection from lead exposure may put some indie toy makers out of business. What do you think of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act?
From hmartin,oxford,michigan does this new law encompass all the toys and tools that teachers use in schools? If so then schools that are already underfunded will be at more risk because they will have to throw out everything they have and will have to buy new.
From Anonymous How wrong this is. They should test the materials before they are sold to the businesses that use them to make clothes and toys. And how much do you think the clothes companys are going to start charging for their clothes after they have to pay to have this test done? And the people that make blankets, hats and such for the needy children in the hospitals and such. They can't afford to do it if this passes. I think they have to do something different.
From Greg Bilhimer This law also affects motorcycle and atv sales.
dealers are no longer able to sell small atv's and dirtbikes made for kids.
As of the 10th you can no longer buy a one or even buy replacement parts for them, because they are not lead tested.
If this law is not repealed or changed the impact to already suffering small businesses will be huge.
From kristin mesa az I just went to my favorite thrift store and all the children's stuff was gone; clothes, shoes, toys, stuffed animals. I was disgusted. many, many people rely on thrift stores to clothe their children. thank God mine are all older. I have six children and if it hadn't been for thrift stores and resale stores I woundn't have been able to clothe them. Wise up Washington!
From Lynn, Ks. This is sad, sad, sad!! People are being laid off, losing their jobs, homes, and now aren't even going to be able to afford to buy clothing for their children. America- what are we doing? I understand trying to protect the kids from lead and such but if we would put the law into effect for the retailers, and not the thrift stores..eventually the "bad" items would be weeded out. Our economy is in the toilet and we are going to put more people out of business… Here's an idea, let's get more clothing made here in AMERICA… it would create jobs, as well as have better restrictions and guidelines on what is produced. Come on people lets be logical!!!
From John Ferguson spokane washington I think the law is great, i wouldn't want to buy any of anyones products large or small companies, if you cant say it is safe, and why would you want to sell to children if you weren't sure it was safe? Its about time we get strict on childrens toys and clothing.
From Jessica Robertson, Sonora, CA i am a stay at home mom, who thought by recycling materials and turning them into "new" items like clothing and natural toys was doing something positive through my work; greening up the mass wasting of consumer junk. guess i'll have to rethink this one now…i just started my business at the start of the year. how terrible for the little people, like me.
From Mike Sherry, Denver Colorado As a manufacturer of hand made wooden puzzles, http://www.pangaeapuzzles.com, the new law will force me to eliminate many of my products that are designed for children under 12 due to the cost of testing. Many of my products are hand made and are unfinished and the cost of testing each design is just not economically feasible. Although I have some products for older kids and adults, I will be forced to eliminate all of my childrens lines even though they contain no lead. I will loose the majority of my current business.
From Abigail Rockport, TX Wow this is just heart breaking…we are all trying our hardest to survive in this economy! I personally have been knitting scarves to supplement my income, does that mean I can only knit for adults??? Why would the lawmakers not think about the little guys before putting something this drastic into effect…I love sites like ETSY where its an entire world of handcrafted items…are they planning on running us all of?
From Katie virginia, VA If there are no exceptions for small businesses there won't be any small businesses! Our economy is bad enough, let's not make it worse by putting small businesses out of business. I understand this type of law for huge companys like Mattel, but not small businesses. This law was proposed because there were problems with toys from large companies like Mattel, not homemade toys from small businesses! Please prevent this law from applying to our small businesses, because there is no such thing as "one size fits all."
From Stacia Weller, Seattle WA I think the United States is far behind in our standards and legislation concerning toy safety. I've watched my two children chew on trains, plastic rattles and endless 'Safe' toys for the first 5 years of their lives. I'm not an overly protective mother, but I resent the fact that I have to pay top dollar to buy German toys to have the peace of mind that my child won't be ingesting toxic chemicals that affect their behavior and health. The colleagues I have who create handmade toys and sell on Etsy and at local craft fairs are worried, but also feel relatively secure that the Handmade genre will be excluded from this in 2009.
From Jenna Madison, WI My small business is already hanging on the best we can during this trying time. I find it ironic that the "biggie" companies such as Mattel are the ones who violated the laws, and the small businesses that make things locally are the ones that will end up out of business. Mattel will have plenty of money for testing.
We have always cared about safety for the products we have carried in our store. It takes a considerable amount of time to be sure what we sell is safe. I am not sure why I can be fined and sent to jail for non compliance. SO UNFAIR.
I wrote to my representatives and got the "we are doing it for the kids" response.
Here's to our vanilla big box world. Better check that stick in the back yard the kiddos are playing with – it could be dangerous!
From Shawnee, Kansas Toymakers must use non-toxic materials and document those materials and sources for periodic audits. It is easy to accomplish. Most of us are concerned about our children's health and safety. It is not wise to place all of our focus on this limited problem. Let's fix it without driving our toymakers out of business. Then let's place our attention where the the biggest children's health problem exists. Children in millions of homes do not eat quality food. Many children are malnurished or starving. Childhood obesity and autism are both increasing rapidly. We must start in the lunch boxes, kitchens and vending machines of our children's lives to insure the long term health of the next generation.
From Denise Childs,Lorena,Texas It looks like to me this is the way the "Government" passes the buck on their "mistake". They are embarassed for bringing in tanted toys from around the world and then having to recall them. If the government would stop outsourcing what can be made right here in our own country we would not be having this problem.
I personally do not make items for childrern. Thank goodness! But I do purchase them on Etsy and I love the craftsmanship. Its truly a shame….
From Rosemary Allen I am also angry how this ill conceived law is affecting small businesses. I want to know to what extent this agency will go to prosecute small businesses who do not comply with a law that has no regard for them. Crafters are fearful that their homes will be taken away from them as they try to pay their bills from a business that sells safe alternate products already. It seems obvious to me that they are improperly staffed and educated. What kind of research was put into drafting this law? Were small US businesses contacted for their input? Why was the wording changed at the last minute? Did the lawmakers even read the bill? I have so many questions. These are only a few.
From Simone I am getting the impression that we are faced with a standoff between the CPSC and Congress. The CPSC is frustrated by having to implement convoluted, underfunded, and ill conceived legislation while Congress wishes the CPSC would clean up Congress' mess already. In the meantime consumers, retailers, and manufacturers are utterly paralyzed by the lack of any guidelines coming out of Washington.
From Jeff, DeRidder, LA Simple solution: create a database of approved suppliers and materials/products that are considered safe. Create a system, maybe as part of the Agriculture extension systems to provide access to the appropriate information and license the toy makers the same as you would a pesticide applicator, or many other regulated industries that retail directly to consumers… Everybody wins that way and people can then be held accountable.
From Anonymous Isnt the safety of our children our foremost concern-duh! Isnt that why "We the people" have put into place the consumer safety commission. Truth is "We the people" cannot pass enough laws to stop injustice or corruption. My husband was just layed off his job- Now this will close my buisness- Noah got on the Ark before the rain started. Well its starting to rain my friend. We all have choices to make, I hope we make good ones- my best to all of you.
From Veronica Andie Sacramento CA I live in California and we already have a law about phthalates. We also have some lead laws and Proposition 65. I'm curious…if these handmade toys have been sold in California, haven't they been testing these to our laws? As a consumer, how do I know these items they are making are safe? I understand other states also have laws about lead, like Illinois and Washington. What protection have we consumers had over the past few years against handmade toys that may not meet these state laws? I'm very surprised that these items have never had to be tested before.
From Tasha Thomas Well, they can either change this law, or they can shove their student loan payments, because I won't be paying one single dime. I started a small home business to pay my student loans [reconstructed clothing], What happens, though, with this law, Who defines what is being sold to children. I make and sew aprons, purses, etc., any adult or child can buy. So, how does this law prevent someone selling to an adult being charged with selling an item untested to a child?
It won't just effect garments/accessories sold to children, because Any accessory such as bags, purses, hair ornaments, aprons, sweaters, hats, could be sold and/or bought by Either.
Its bad enough that you can't even Get a job with any type of bad credit, divorce [some companies can legally discriminate now with the Mode of Lifestyle checks] and so forth, including fast food places, forcing thousands not just out of work but preventing them From work, leaving them no other choice BUT to work from home.
Now This? While corporations with sweatshops and labor camps who lock women in and don't pay them [remember GAP lawsuit] and who take trafficked women from Indonesia, Bangladesh, etc., can afford lead testing,
how in the Hell am I supposed to afford $500 for each hat, purse and garment unless I charge a whopping $1,000 per purse/hat, etc?
This is an outrage, seriously, I know older women who crochet and knit, to eat, not they will starve.
I'm furious, literally Furious, what next, arresting people selling their kid's clothes on Craigs list, at garage sales,
ARE they NOT going to be happy until we have masses of poor/working poor and middle class poor starving, naked and dying in the streets? While they with their Free Trade with China and selling us food imported that they Refuse to test for E Coli and the workers they bring over from Somalia in our beef plants that Refuse to wash their hands [handling beef/chicken products, look up Tyson, its outrageous].
Meanwhile discriminating and pitting migrant workers against each other, forcing American poor out of work, for those cheap wages, and pandering to certain religious laws according to Sharia, no kidding on that one [see huge controversy in Greeley CO over this not too long ago].
We are being forced more and more to either not be able to work period, or forced to work as literal slaves, manual day labor picking up manure at the Inauguration for example,
at $7.00 an hour, no pay for the long commute and no bags allowed, Depression not recession,
and the people are letting it happen. UNTIL something changes, if I can't work, if I can't earn income, I can't pay my student loans,
and you know something, right now, the Gov can kiss my ass. Seriously, I am one Fed up American.
From Janissa Boswell, Quincy, Wa Okay, People. Instead of writing your complaints here you should be writing to the Senator AND to new elect president Barack Obama.
I definitely do not agree with this law as I am a crafter that would like to keep doing what I am doing to sell at craft shows and bazaars, but the bottom line here is that just telling each other here is not going to get a positive response. You have got to write to the Senator, Congress,and Barack Obama. The more people that do will find that this should have a positive impact on what we are trying to tell them.
From David, Colorado Springs, CO If 100% of the toys found to contain lead and other harmful substances are from China. Why not just specify that no toys can be imported from China and no toys can be manufactured with Chinese products. While we are at it, why not REALLY protect people by specifying no food, for pets, livestock or humans, will be imported from China or me made with Chinese products? Instead, the government is now going to punish US citizens for what the Chinese started. Great! Must be one of the top 10 ways to destroy an economy. Don't our lawmakers get paid to distinguish where the problem lies and propose solutions? This is too broadbrush to be anything but toy manufacturer lobbyist campaigning to destroy small competitors. It happened in farming, now it is happening on every other front. A little research may show that the testing bodies are controlled by the toy conglomerates. Ah, to be a US lawmaker – life would be a breeze!
From adrienne catrina, Irvine, CA This law is so sad. The CPSIA is killing thousands of small businesses. It is putting small domestic manufacturers out of business with the unrealistic deadline,and encouraging cheap imports.
As a parent, I understand the need for safety laws and regulations, but the language and broad nature of this bill, the lack of a sufficient grace period, and particularly the retroactive nature of the ban on non-tested children's products, will bankrupt thousands of small businesses that were actually surviving the credit crunch and devastating economy.
Children's apparel that was legal when it was made will be contraband as of Feb 10? Keep in mind that apparel is seasonal, so clothing that is being produced now will be off the shelves within a year. The tests cost thousands of dollars. There should have been a longer lead time to allow businesses time to adjust their business models and pricing structure to comply. In apparel, prototype samples are made, shown to retail buyers, produced, and shipped. This is about an 8-9 month process. If given a proper grace period, we would have been able to make sure the prototype samples that we are showing are compliant. As it is now, we have sold and produced items, and are now required to test items that were legal when made.
68% of U.S. children's apparel manufacturers are small. Expect more layoffs and businesses closing soon unless some amendments are made.
I understand that this bill was passed with good intentions, but clearly those that put it together do not understand the manufacturing process. The devastating effect to the economy on low-risk products outweighs the dangers posed by high-risk children’s products.
From Anna Bender, Zanasville,IN My daughter makes one of a kind stuffed 'things' (for lack of a better word) and uses recycled materials. These are not childrens toys, they are collector's items. Bu t they LOOK like childrens toys so would she have to test all her found materials under the law?
From cheryl, Middletown, NY As a crafter, I find this insane. Anything I make would be under this law and therefore, no more craft shows.
People making dolls, booties, baby sweaters should not have to test the final item. They are purchasing all the components (yarns, buttons, material) and the companies making those goods should have to show the items are safe whether they are a synthetic or natural fiber.
In these economic times, it seems ridiculous to pass such a bill as only the small guy who sells at craft shows and on-line only will be punished. These are the people I also support as a crafter.
Washington wake up–maybe you should also have everything else on the market tested as children but anything in their mouths and put their mouths on everything (like the kid I saw licking the shopping cart handle last time in the market–wonder what's on that).
From mainstreetbailout It's no secret that our politicians on both sides of aisle create laws to benefit corporations which fill their campaign coffers.
One day soon, Americans will wake up to the fact that our "public servants" are anything but.
From Candice Two things that really bother me about this bill (not including the fact that I will be yet another small business put out of business…):
1. Lead-in-paint has been illegal for decades. Why is Congress writing another law? The issue here is noncompliance on the part of large toy companies – they illegally imported children's items from China.
2. This law ignores the fact that children put many things in their mouths on a daily basis that are not specifically intended for children. None of these items will need to be tested unless they have a Hannah Montana or Spongebob logo: Silverware, dishware, plastic cups, pots, pans, toothbrushes, plastic food containers (such as squeezeable yogurt and pop bottles.) These are things the average child puts in their mouth many more times a day than a toy, book, or stuffed animal.
And my four month old, too, will put anything within reach in his mouth, and this includes my clothing, my hairbrush handle, even the carpeting on occasion!
If Congress was concerned about our children's health (and adults can get lead poisoning, too) they would best look at these items too.
This isn't to say that I want to see every item tested. I just see a lack of common sense and clarification here, and it's incredibly frustrating to know that even in the best situation, some of my best selling products will have to be taken down until the second vote, and in the worst situation, taken down permanently.
From Jive Dadson – San Jose, California There are 534 representatives and senators. Only one of them voted against this awful law. Only one: Ron Paul. Did the others not read the bill, or were they simply too cowardly to vote against a law "for the children"?
From Linda Noel Sedro-Woolley, WA. As owner of an antique shop and former public school librarian, I think the press coverage of this far-reaching law is abominable. At what point will this issue become disseminated to the public? Hopefully, before libraries are closed and resale shops and manufacturers of new children's products are bankrupt. Two things astound me about this law: The potential impact on our society, and the lack of intense scrutiny and deliberation which should have taken place before this bill was signed into law!
From joy dallas,tx As a mother of two children recently diagnosed with lead poisoning I am all for the new law. To those of you who make hand made toys, good, wonderful because that is all my children are allowed to have anymore, keep making your handmade toys as they will be some of the very few toys that will pass testing most likely. Having had my home throughly examined by the state it was found the primary sources were a key chain, crayrons and toys so yes we need some law to prevent these toxic toys from being sold. This is about protecting consumers form unknowing purchasing protentially deadly products.
From Kelly Rankin Redwood City, CA I too will be put out of business by this law. For a business such as my own, which generates around $50,000 anually, I simply cannot afford to RETEST the items that we already know do not contain any lead! I am faced with the decision of either closing shop and not being able to support my 3 kids, or not comply and risk the penalty. All of this for my products which have never made a child sick, and don't contain even the smallest amount of lead!
From dennis, manila, philippines if other toys undergone to a test requirements and procedures and meet all the necessary lawful limits it could also be applied to all toys sell in public, security first before to think others, the lawmakers should have to evaluate and study carefully their decisions before they go before hand.thanks a lot cnn.
From Andrea, Anchorage AK Let China do the testing of their toys that they manufacture and sell to the US – problem solved. With the US economy going down the tubes, this will only make it A LOT worse – this is a travesty to our Nation :o(((
From Marilyn naples florida Keep it simple.Forget all the expensive testing and outlaw imports of toys. All new children's toys to be made in the USA. All old imported Asian toys must be disposed of or designated as collectors items not to be used by children.
We could use a toy industry right here in this country again so it benefits everyone.
From Sara Kepich, Ypsilanti, MI I think this law is punishing Americans for China's mistakes.
It is so broadly written and wide sweeping that an 80 year old grandmother could face felony jail time for selling baby quilts at the church craft fair. Unless she wants to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the required third party testing.
It also punishes lower income Americans who rely on thrift stores to clothe their children. Because selling non tested second hand clothing will be illegal.
Libraries and bookstores will have to destroy existing inventories of children's books, or pay in the millions to have each individual book tested.
I can name five local businesses in my area that will be destroyed by this law. And I live in Michigan where we can't afford any more economic hits.
From Jason, California CPSIA is on it's way to wiping out a lot more than handcrafted toy makers. It covers sports equipment, clothing, books, and anything that could be used by kids 0-12 years-old.
Guess what happens when retailers get stuck with products that can't be sold due to flawed legislation? They can't afford to buy products from large or small manufacturers, or pay employees.
From tc, Spokane, Wa I, too, have an Etsy.com shop and while I don't make toys, I do create artwork for children's rooms. So far this law apparently includes artwork as well, which is ridiculous because no one makes custom art with the intent of someone handing it to the child to "play" with or put in their mouth. Yet under the guidelines, me and every other artist out there will also have to have our products tested. It makes no sense.
From Heather, San Diego, CA My small Etsy business is finally making sales, I started in November of 2008. Since scarves and gloves don't sell well during the summer months, I planned on knitting children's hats and baby bath scrubs during the summer. I can see I will need to change my plans.
Spending no extra money and living off credit cards this summer will be just what the economy needs.
From Jon, Lansing, Michigan ………not in any way implying that children's safety is as un-important as pesky ants…………
From Jon, Lansing Michigan I think I have a good idea. Let's drop an atomic bomb on this ant hill over here because those pesky ants are getting into my kitchen food pantry and making a mess……… kind of like this good idea of a law.
From Rachele Dressler-Sweetser Please join the hundreds of prospective participants in our Class Action Lawsuit to stop the implementation of the CPSIA pending a hearing or trial-we can do something to make this stop! For more information, go to http://www.reformcpsia.org
and make this happen with us!
From Jennifer, Waterloo IL I am a stay at home mom to 5 children. I am a wife and have a home business as well. I hand craft and sell little girls ribbon and fabric hair accessories (bows and headbands etc…) on my website. I have worked VERY hard over the past 4 years to grow my business. I am the only income for our family.
My business has taken off over the years to the point my husband does not HAVE to work and can stay home and help with the kids while I work and bring in enough income to support us! I have felt truly blessed and proud to be a self employed business owner in the United States!
This law, if implemented, would be tragic to our family. I would be out of work leaving our family with no income at all! My husband would be forced back out into the work world and hopefully find a job in these economic times, that most likely would not pay for our bills we currently have.
Things are so good with my business, I CHOSE to be my own boss and be able to stay at home with my babies. This law MUST be amended to keep the small business men and women of America in mind! There are so many people out there that choose to buy hand made because of the love and extra attention and care, knowing that these products are produced in the USA and they do not have to buy from China etc!
From Amanda, Camp Pendleton CA I make cloth diapers out of Certified Organic Bamboo velour, all the fabrics I use are USDA certified organic and OEKO 100 certified, stating they are safe, yet I still have to have my END product tested out of fear that while sewing in my home I may introduce lead. I am teasting with other Work at Home Mom's with an XRF machine that will make our products ok untill august. That's when the laws state that the XRF machine testing will no longer be valid, and I'll have to send a sample of every colorway, every style to be demolished and tested at a cost of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
My Hyenacart will be open until then. After the Aug. laws, I'll have to close.
My income buys the groceries, it's not much but my kids can eat and I don't have to rely on someone else to raise them for me while I spend thier lives working Out of the home to feed them.
I'm all for keeping our kids safe, but if we're using made in USA, organic or natural materials, why the heck do they need to be tested by a 3rd party, or labeled with a bath number when only 1 or two are made a day or week?
95% of x-mas gifts we gave this year came from handcrafters. Now we'll have to stick with Made in China.
From Melissa, St. Louis, Missouri This new law will stop production of custom printed items, such as t-shirts, sports jerseys, etc., for kids age 12 and under. No team uniforms, custom school apparel, etc. T-shirts and other products for kids made by small businesses or individuals. I don't think the end consumer realizes the impact this law will have on the products they purchase.
From Lisa, Sherwood, AR I make crochet toys and was planning on putting them on Etsy to help supplement our income in this horrible economy, but how can I do that if they want me to spend hundreds of dollars to test a $20 toy? Oh, sure, wool isn't included, but what about acrylic yarns? Wool is wonderful but not very practical when you're making a toy for a child since it will need to be washed many times plus some people are allergic to wool. Thanks a lot Congress.
From Al, Seattle, WA If you need testing services, check out http://www.phthalatetesting.com
From Rob Wilson, Ashland, MA Finally CNN picks up on this story of critical national importance. When can we expect some prime time coverage?
Here are a couple of articles:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0115/p09s02-coop.html
Here are some websites:
http://www.squidoo.com/fixcpsia
http://www.cpsia-central.ning.com
http://www.nationalbankruptcyday.com
http://www.fashion-incubator.com
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org
Looking for great coverage from CNN to make up for the silence.
Rob Wilson
Challenge & Fun, Inc.
From Fawn and Finch – Fort Smith, AR This law will definitely put me out of business. I have a small shop where I sell handmade pacifier and mitten clips and there's no way I can afford $300 of testing on a $6 item.
From Fiona Turnbull, Colorado The fact that books are not exempted just shows how ridiculous this has gotten – The American Library Association is concerned enough about these rules they will recommend that children's books be removed from libraries or children will have to be banned from libraries if this goes through as written
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/74940-Congress-bans-kids-from-libraries/
lots of info about the book controversy here
http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php/Consumer_Product_Safety_Improvement_Act_(CPSIA)
From Linda Cox, Colton CA I wonder if this new law includes acrylic yarns and wool yarns used to produce knitted and crochet toys, hats, and clothing for children? I have a very small business in which I crochet seasonal items for sale, mostly Christmas.
From Linda, Pittsburgh PA I think this law is outrageous in its scope and does more harm than good. I have been watching developments closely because I recently started my own cottage industry. I suggest that everyone that is going to be hurt by this law, owners and consumers, call the White House on Jan. 21st to respectfully ask that President Obama – the President for change- do something to get this law changed. Send messages to congressmen and senators too. If we flood them with messages all next week, we are bound to get attention and maybe some answers and change.
From k. Wendli Indianapolis, IN Just more big brother government and its scare tactics. There is a never ending parade of things to worry about. almost all of them harmless. In the "good old days" we played with mercury, fished with toxic lead sinkers, and played with all forms or "harmful" toys. I'm still here and doing just fine. Americans dont need to be punished for the defects of all the crap imported from China.
From Darrow – Irving TX If this decision isn't amended, it will impact not only small business, but consumers. Lots of people want to buy homemade goods, things that aren't profitable for large manufacturers. We purchase alot of our homeschool materials online from small businesses, because we can't even find these kits/items in a regular store.
From M. MacLeod, Gravois Mills, Missouri As owner of a "cottage industry", homebased business I create, by hand, babies and toddlers soft toys. They contain NO plastics, wood or metal of any kind. Just cotton flannel, fleece and thread. This law is essentially putting me out of business. I could never afford to test for something that isn't going to be found anyway. I cannot believe that the lawmakers did not look into the ramifications of this ill-thought out "law". This is simply the easy way out and a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that was caused exclusively by large toy companies that outsource their production. Control the imports and you have controlled the problem….try passing a law that is actually solving the problem without creating a million other ones. National bankruptcy day is February 10th, 2009 when this law takes effect…..our own government is bankrupting small toy makers in the United States…..
From Dean Gorby How will "main street" be able to survive if big business and their hold on big government eliminate opportunities for people to do work that can put food on the table for themselves? Free the people to compete!
From Nora Bethel, CT Toys have been the focus of most articles, but this affects EVERYTHING intended for those 12 and under, including BOOKS. Everything your local school district buys most go through an unnecessary extra testing step. 6th graders are not going to get lead poisoning from their microscopes in science lab.
Every single taxpayer will pay for this unnecessary extra testing of already safe products.
Targeted unannounced inspection of manufacturers with known issues is the REAL way to stop tainted good from entering the market.
From KPod This is what happens when legislators introduce laws in response to a crisis or disaster in order to be seen as "doing something" in response, without actually thinking about the issue and crafting laws which will actually help, not harm.
From Quin Dodd, Washington, DC Per comment below, meant to say, "Call and write House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and demand that they reform the CPSIA as soon as possible"
From Quin Dodd, Washington, DC It is Congress, not the CPSC, that has the power to mitigate much of the far-reaching provisions of the new law, including applying the lead ban to all children's products. There is very limited authority of the CPSC to grant exemptions to this ban and in any case cannot build a sufficient case to make the requisite findings before February 10 when the ban goes into effect. Congress knew that this and other provisions in the law would have enormous implementation and compliance costs, but they passed it anyway. Write and call House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and demand that they do so as soon as possible.
From Kathy Force, Molalla, Oregon I think the law is excessive! I am a healthy 62 years old. I played with Mercury, lead, and lived in a house with asphalt siding and shingles. I collect old toys, which I am sure contain lead. I still have most of the toys I had as a child. I understand that our children need to be protected, but do they need to be placed in a cocoon?
From J. Rotello, Knoxville, TN Instead of micro or small business potentially being ruined by exorbitant testing fees and companies, of which there ARE those, allow universities and CIS departments alternately test for the presence and amount of any materials and residuals that are deemed harmful.
Allow them — encourage them! — to charge greatly lower fees as well. The "workload" to do this type of testing is so transitory and light, that there's no reason to "overload" these two new testing avenues, as they would only test for micro and small business.
These two testing avenues have the sophisticated machines, most are automated, to test samples and report back certified, state and federal government accepted findings.
It's just an application of common sense….something that seems in such short supply these days.
From Corinne, Rochester, NY I understand that lead poisoning is a serious problem that does need some control, however, must we go to these extremes? Honestly, how many of these toys are actually poisoning these children??? Have children tested for lead annually. Clean toys… if paint appears to be chipping or material deteriorating, throw it away. Make sure companies producing certain amounts of mass production are testing, fine. Make sure companies producing material to craft stores are labelling if products contain lead. The parent with a lead poisoned child can order lead tests if there seems to be a problem when their child is screened. Come on…
From Sarah Natividad, Tooele, UT If the CPSC would just get off their butts and issue some sensible proposed rules (they don't even have to finish the rule codification process) before Feb. 10, a lot of the furor would subside. It's uncertainty that kills business. They're acting like us business owners are just trying to avoid making hard decisions by asking them what we ought to do to avoid them coming down hard on us with $100,000 fines and felony charges. As if closing down under threat of prosecution isn't a hard decision!
I have done baskets and Christmas stockings for needy children for years. When I went to drop off my latest to my local non profit I was told because of this law they can no longer take them. The items were all new- bought in local stores, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar Store-I have worked to protect children professionally most of my career this is beyond anything I've ever seen- what happened to common sense. Let law makers have to strictly abide by these rules when it is their kids birthday or Christmas. I question this was to protect children sounds more like they wanted to cover their own incompetency.