I posted this in kids also but as it's political am posting it here

The general gist of this law as I understan it is that after feb 10th all materials used in children's toys, clothes, ANYTHING must be tested at 200-500 a pop for toxins. Any item that is not compliant with testing, whether it was produced prior to the date of effect of this law is suppose to go into land fills.

I really think we should have better safety laws, however the way this law is written is going to put small businesses, work at home businesses and thrift stores like good will out of business from fees or they just have to not sell ANY children items. Businesses like Kids to Kids have already released statements that on the 10th they will be closing their doors and are presumed to be filing for bankruptsy. Stores across etsy and hyenacart are selling off stock and clearancing out items because they can not afford to be compliant with this law.

This law was rushed through the government and because of that is seriously flawed in a way that will be further crippling an economy that is already in crisis. I totally agree that there should be better safety laws for children, but I also believe that the state of the economy is very important to my child's well being as well, and I worry about what happens when a law like this puts thousands out of work when jobs are already too hard to find.

I can only imagin how expensive this is going to make childrens items. It's also going to make buying childrens items from thrifts stores almost impossible for quite some time and think of all the items that are going to be wasted now. On top of that by grinding all those wonderful child related wah and small businesses to a hault it is harming local purchasing and benefiting those big companies who produce and trade internationally that will now have less made in the usa competition.

As I said before I agree there should be better child safety laws, but there must be a better way to go about it then this.

This is a post from mommyfairyqueen on cafemom, she is also a member of huddler under the same name and avatar, but this has some good links in it for what you can do and infomation.

by mommyfairyqueen on Jan. 5, 2009 at 1:58 PM I have 3 resources for everyone... the first is The Handmade Toy Alliance (this link actually goes to their "how you can help" page on which you can sign an online petition and obtain a "sample letter" to send to your senators and representitaves.  I personally have done these things though my letter included points on resale, environmental responsibility and social responsibility (as this will affect the Fair Trade market).  From this page they provide links to the senators and representitaves web pages on which you can send e-mails as well. The second link is to the US CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commision) on this site you can find info on these required tests and some of what their responses are.  Under their "What's Hot" has some info and if you go to the "What's Popular" link, under Lead, you will find things from their employees roundtable siminars.  There is also a link to contact them as well. I have a friend that is a corporate lawyer who while he doesn't know a lot about the current CPSIA, he is willing to answer and interpret any terms you don't understand about the law itself, just pm me and I will ask his thoughts and insight on this. This is the link to the actual CPSIA law if you are wanting to sit and try to read it (62 pages of lots of leagal stuff)

another page to visit if you have a small business to take the surveys an see the impact this law will have on you.

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/cpsia-please-take-the-economic-impact-survey/

Regulators rethink rules on testing children's clothing and toys for lead

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lead7-2009jan07,0,6917858.story

new source from amy

by mommyfairyqueen on Jan. 8, 2009 at 2:05 PM   a link that has good information and a place to "vote" (kinda the same as signing a petition) the people at Change.org are taking some ideas to president elect Obama for "change"  the Handmade Toys Alliance has proposed some changes to this law (CPSIA)  Over the past week you have seen many posts on this and lots of links to help get this law changed.  Please don't stop your efforts to help keep our economy, our environment, and our global social responsibilities from falling to the wayside due to this bill. The link is:  http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia I am still encouraging everyone to write their representatives and senators as well as signing petitions.  Please help us on this issue.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children’s Product Safety Laws Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children’s Products, Thrift and Consignment Stores

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children’s products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more that 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

Under the new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

When the CPSIA was signed into law on August 14, 2008, it became unlawful to sell recalled products. All resellers should check the CPSC Web site (www.cpsc.gov) for information on recalled products before taking into inventory or selling a product. The selling of recalled products also could carry civil and/or criminal penalties.

The agency intends to focus its enforcement efforts on products of greatest risk and largest exposure. While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children’s products, particularly cribs and play yards; children’s products that may contain lead, such as children’s jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children.

The agency has underway a number of rulemaking proposals intended to provide guidance on the new lead limit requirements. Please visit the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for more information.