There is a new law that will effect on February 10, 2009 -- the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This act will require ALL PRODUCTS that are intended for children under 12 to be tested for lead.
ALL products.
This will hit everyone from moms who make cloth diapers to sell on-line, to thrift stores, consignment shops, and yes, even curriculum suppliers. Those who fail to provide certification of government-approved safety ratings will face huge fines ($100,000 per incident) and possible jail time.
This is absolutely insane.
According to what I have read,
The cost of having a single wood block tested is $150. To have a wooden baby's teething rattle tested would be $4000. Even books, DVDs, clothing, handmade toys or blankets, children's clothing, the bags items are packed in and sold in, etc come under this new law. ANYTHING that comes into contact with a child under 12 years of age is required to be tested and certified.
The only businesses who can handle this sort of cost will be the huge corporations. Small businesses will not.
Please take a few minutes to talk to your senators and representatives!
Other links:
Emily from Laundry and Lullabies has a wonderful post. It is women like her who will be forced out of business!
Etsy Updates and Call to Action
Cool Mom Picks: Saving Handmade from CPSIA
4 comments:
I blogged about this a few days ago - if you or your readers are interested you might like to check it out. I have links up to help you find the senators and representatives to contact, and also to some other groups that are trying to get this law amended. You can read about it on my site here: http://laundryandlullabies.blogspot.com/2009/01/laws-with-unintended-consequences.html
I sell slings, mei tais, baby blankets, and burp cloths. All 100% cotton, all hand-made. As of Feb. 10th I'll be out of business if they don't get this law amended! Thanks for helping bring attention to the problem!
Ken thinks there's no way this will pass. It would be devastating for small businesses. I really hope it doesn't pass.
The problem is, it already HAS passed. It was signed into law in August 2008. It's a done deal. The only hope is that they will go back and rethink all this, and make the law apply only in very small, specific situations, rather than covering everything and everybody, and forcing small businesses to close.
I appreciate what they were trying to do, but for Pete's sake -- didn't anyone THINK this through???
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