CSPIA Blog In Day - a Day Late

Well, I missed blogging about this yesterday...but, Jenny at Allsorts has summed it much more succinctly than I could. I've included excerpts from her blog, and encourage you to follow the links back to her blog and read the rest.

Knowledge is power...but in this case, knowledge in silence wields none. If you're as worried as I am, please speak up!






CPSIA Blog-in day

************
When Congress passed the CPSIA
(the Consumer Product Safety Inspection Act) in August 2008, they were intending
to protect companies from selling harmful products. All products intended for
children under 12 years old must go through thorough and stringent testing. The
CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in children’s products, mandates third party
testing and certification, and requires manufacturers of all goods for children
under the age of 12 to permanently label each item with a date and batch
number.

Most people know someone who will be affected because most people know
people who have children, will buy something for a child within their lifetime,
or have children themselves. Most small businesses and crafters who sell
children’s products care about this. They will be put out of business by this
law due to the prohibitive testing costs. Their products might be safe, but they
can’t afford to “prove” it. Many parents care about this, their choices for
their children could be significantly limited if the mid-size, small, and micro
manufacturers all go out of business due to this.

Who should be concerned?

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. (More at Allsorts)

To the Environmentalist: Due to the new law, all items in
non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing
landfills... (More at Allsorts)

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... (More at Allsorts)

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 Global 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.

Click here for a recent article from Forbes

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New
Law.

What can I do to help? Call your Congressman (the time for letters and emails has passed), ask them to call for a hearing from the Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss this new
law. Find out their position on this important issue. It has become a rather
partisan issue, and that helps NO ONE. Encourage them to take a bipartisan look
at the big picture here.

*********************