Information on CPSIA - Everyone Should Read This

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

I just took the handmade pledge!

HotPinkThread's Views on CPSIA

After speaking with the owner of the etsy shop, HotPinkThread, I am convinced of the horrible effects of the CPSIA law on small businesses. HotPinkThread's owner says, "I can't afford the required testing as of 2/10/09. $130 per sample is too expensive for my children's items." She is concerned about how she can afford to stay in business. She says it will also affect her ability to purchase handmade items for her two children. She loves to shop handmade and is dissappointed that she may not be able to do so after 2/10/09.

HotPinkThread owner has decided to shift her focus onto her handbags instead of children's items. She says, "I am hoping that an amendment will pass to assist small business owners like myself to stay in business. I don't mind using tested and certified materials, I just can not afford to test each one of my creations."

Please support this cause and send letters to your local senators and representatives to help raise awareness on this issue.

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CJ's Fine Designs

HipKidsTyeDye - How the CPSIA is Affecting This Etsy Shop

The owner of HipKidsTyeDye says, "I tye-dye because I love it. I tye-dye because my the best part of this job is receiving letters from the moms of kids who love their dresses, shirts and hats so much they won’t wear anything else. I tye-dye because I can flex my creative muscle and play mad scientist in the basement with bottles of dye."

The owner of this online Etsy shop has been tye dying for over 10 years. She is very concerned with how the new CPSIA Law will affect her business.

"My cottage business is at risk of being shut down due to expense of mandatory third party testing and labeling of my items. I have done my due diligence on the products I use and although certification from the manufacturers is not good enough according to the law, at the very least I have peace of mind knowing that the dyes I use are safe. This CPSIA legislation is a perfect example of overkill. Sometimes more is not always better. Sometimes it’s just more, and it doesn’t serve any real purpose but to clog the market with unnecessary re-testing."

She states that she will continue to support handmade and she hopes you will too! Please visit her shop at:

Hip Kids Tye Dye

The Enchanted Cupboard - CPSIA Affects This Etsy Shop

The owner of The Enchanted Cupboard is a stay at home mom that homeschools her children and runs her shop at home. You can check out her online Etsy shop at: The Enchanted Cupboard. She takes great pride and joy in her lovely creations. This is how the law will affect her and her business:

"I completely believe in attachment parenting and so that leaves very little of my life for me with 4 kids. My art/craft is my outlet. I have always painted but making toys has given me great joy. I am often giggling in my art room over the little faces and what new thing I created by gluing two wood pieces together. I don't get that much sleep these days with our little one teething, so find a little joy in my day is BIG.

The day I found out about the law felt like the walls were coming in on me. I didn't even realize how sad I was till we have been having some good news lately in the news. I was joyful again, I even wanted to redo Christmas!

As a parent this scares me. I want to be able to get other creative things for my kids from other crafters. This year in our house 50% of the items under the tree we from etsy sellers. Santa even felt my kids were good enough that they got toys made by the ETSY Elves this year. Last week I shopped for my daughter's first birthday, everything was homemade from Etsy shops. It was exhilarating, no crazy packaging, no plastic, and toys she will treasure forever.

I think there are some simple steps they can take. Like in the NEVER ENDING STORY, the princess only needed a name for the nothing to go away. If the give us a name instead of calling us MANUFACTURES they could easily fix this for us. In recent reports, they have been calling us "independent craftsperson". Also, American made products that already are tested and certified non-toxic should be exempt. There is a great many things that do not contain lead and I am working on compiling a list. I want to make sure I list things I use and plan to use in the future. Simple step can be made to change this law, they just need to "walk" that way to change them."

Please write to your local representatives and congressman to make a difference. Also, don't forget to vote at:

CPSIA Affecting Small Businesses

The new law to protect children from lead paint is called the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act). Although an important law, it is affecting small business in a very negative way.

Under this law, the government beginning on February 10, 2009, is going to mandate lead testing on all products manufactured or assembled that are intended for children 12 and under. While being a great idea, the oversight for the law makes it illegal to sell any products that are intended for children age 12 and under that are not certified as being tested. That is going to put small businesses out of business because the cost of the testing will have a huge impact on us.

An amendment to exclude consignment shops has already been approved, but for crafters like myself we are still keeping our fingers crossed.

Please click on the link to vote at
http://www.change.org