CPSIA . . . Again
Yes, I know that I’ve been posting about the CPSIA at least once a week for the last few weeks. I wish I could stop, but I can’t. I keep hoping that I will wake up one morning and there’s an alert informing me that the law has been repealed and they’re working on one that makes sense — but it hasn’t happened yet. And, so, I will keep blogging and hoping that the information spreads far and wide about this issue so that thousands more companies don’t go out of business this year.
Does that sound alarmist? I know it probably does, but the truth of the matter is that many businesses have already shut their doors in anticipation of the February 10 deadline. They know they can’t afford the testing, so they’ve sold off their inventory and have started trying to figure out what to do instead.
This law puts undue burden on businesses to test and re-test items for lead and phlatates. Wal-Mart has already told its stores that any items that do not have the certification by February 1 must be pulled from the shelves and returned to the suppliers. Libraries are planning to pull children’s books from the shelves, because the law is retroactive.
There are people in Congress who are finally beginning to understand that this was poor legislation — let your voice be heard and add to the voices that have already spoken.
Cool Mom Picks updates their “Save Handmade” page often. Check it out for lots of details and information about where to voice your opinion.
Read a recent editorial for the New York Post.
Check out just one of the blogs that blogged yesterday about this issue.
Our economy is in enough trouble. Don’t let our government force more businesses to close. Don’t let our government force the ones that remain to raise their prices astronomically to cover testing costs. Don’t assume that this won’t affect you because you don’t think you ever buy anything handmade. It goes well beyond handmande products! It affects EVERYTHING that is produced for children ages 12 and under.
I’m hoping that next week I can blog much more positively about this issue. Stay tuned!
Melanie Rogers is a wife and homeschooling mom of 3 children. She enjoys helping other busy moms find great products to delight their families and make their lives easier. She's always on the lookout for a great bargain, too! You can also find Melanie blogging frequently at My Little Patch of Sunshine.
I wrote an article a few months about shopping locally. It’s bad enough that local smaller businesses are losing out to the box stores but this extra money for testing will be a nightmare and will shut them down. I absolutely agree that the law is poorly written and small business owners (especially in the parenting/baby markets) are going to lose out unfortunately. I love handmade products and either try to make gifts for baby shower gifts or buy local handmade items (baby blankets, clothes, etc) That also goes beyond the baby/parenting market.
That’s really too bad that the small biz owner gets the shaft. I hang out at a local coffeehouse to do my work (and won’t frequent the bigger chain coffee place that begins with a S). Because I live in a small town, I am very loyal to the smaller biz owners (especially in this tough economy).
I write a lot of copy for websites who are small business owners. They are the ones who are really suffering and who really need to boost their business/sales right now. This law seems like another stupid attempt of the govt. to stick it to the small business owner. Obviously, I want products to be safe. It’s just sad that more local, smaller businesses have shut down their doors already.
The people who are trying to repeal this law are not trying to stop the lead testing for children, not even a little bit. The law is poorly written in too broad of terms and will be requiring excessive testing of articles that are not a lead danger. I really hate it when people only look at one side of an argument. Another point–American companies already have strict lead guidelines in place–the problem really is with the cheap imports that are being brought in from other countries.
The companies who are going out of business now are the small cottage industries who have either already closed or are selling off their inventory in anticipation of Feb 10. They’re the moms I know locally who make baby diapers, slings and hair bows who cannot afford the testing requirements. If I know 3 in my immediate circle, I know there are plenty more out there. They won’t issue press releases, they won’t make the news unless they really push to do so. They’re people who make maybe a few hundred dollars a month selling their goods. If you go to etsy.com, you’ll see thousands of listings of children’s goods that would have to disappear come Feb 10. And I believe that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. It will begin to trickle into larger small businesses – who stop making different colors, or variations of toys because of the testing requirements.
I’m all for protecting children. I have 3 of my own! But this law goes well beyond that. I can think of at least $500 worth of children’s goods that I’ve purchased from individuals who created them by hand in the last 2 years. I wouldn’t be able to buy any of those things next year (nursing covers, slings, play capes, toys). They won’t exist.
What businesses have closed because of the CPSIA? I get the bit about libraries–and how trying to pass legislation quickly without really thinking it through produces some big mistakes–but what businesses?
I did a quick google and found a Forbes article encouraging scrapping the act partly because it would put resale shops out of business. Um, do I want resale shops to be allowed to sell products that have been recalled because several children have died? No! And if I was a resale shop owner, I wouldn’t want to have products in my shop that have been known to kill people.
To me it seems that the law does need some tweaking, but I think it does add a layer of protection for our children. I mean, if we didn’t have these laws, maybe we’d start adding deadly chemicals to our milk, because that would make a bigger profit.