Thursday, January 8, 2009

This Stinks!

First of all, I apologize to my followers for slacking off. I will get a giveaway up and running, I promise!

I feel the utmost importance of imforming as many mothers and lovers of handcrafted toys, accessories, and clothing of this ridiculous new law that will be in effect as of Febuary 10th. It is called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, or the CPSIA.
"CPSIA redefines the legal meaning of “children’s products,” “child care articles,” and “toys” to cover virtually all products designed for use by children 12 years old and younger, as well as all
products designed to “facilitate sleep or the feeding of children age 3 and younger, or to help such children with sucking or teething.” It also requires that industry standard ASTM F963-07, also known as the “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety,” will become the formally-adopted CPSC product safety rule on February 10, 2009."

This means that I, along with every other handcrafter of "children's products" will have to spend a whole bunch more money to get my product tested for lead. I'm all about safety, as a mother of 3, but I buy my supplies from bigger companies who have already tested their product. This WILL put me out of business and many others too.

Not only will this law put hundreds of small business owners out of work, but this will affect your wallets too. Don't be suprised when the price for all children's items go up to supplement the extra money needed for the extra testing. No more garage sales, craiglist, ebay, or thrift stores. It's going to make all these illegal!

This law is completely unfair to the companies of the US. All our lead problems have come from China, but we have to pay for their mistakes?! Please contact your congress man and urge him to ammend this law.

Here is the link to the actual lesiglation here
Here is how you can contact your congress man and your Senator.

If I don't make much sense to you, here is a blog with more definition.

Here are some petitions to sign aswell.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/?e
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/

All you have to do is click on these links to make your opinion count. PLEASE, please do so!