CPSIA And You
I was really looking forward to keeping the theme all about Christmas this month, but something has come to my attention that simply must be addressed.
There was a congressional committee recently that decided to pass some regulations regarding products intended for kids under 12. Really tight regulations.
I know what you are thinking… with all of the products coming out of China recently with lead in them, this is a good thing, right?
yes & no
The regulations are rather broad, and will affect more than just products imported from China. It will affect small businesses in the USA, Canada & Europe that make good toys. Natural toys. Handmade toys. Handmade clothes. The alternatives to the plastic junk that lines the shelves at your local Wal-mart.
These small businesses will be put out of business around about February 10, 2009. Yep, gone. No more hand-carved wooden toys are craft fairs. No more unique boutique clothes for your little ones.
Why will these businesses be gone? They can’t afford to have each & every produce tested. Rumor is pegging these 3-rd party tests to be around the $4,000 mark – not part of the budget for a work-at-home-mom hand-sewing boutique clothes and Waldorf dolls in her spare room. Out of the budget for the grandfather who carves wooden toys and sells them at street fairs.
What can we do to help these businesses stay afloat? Well, other than buy up as much as we can before Feb 10 (ha ha) we can get informed, tell others and tell our government that this is too over-reaching. The Handmade Toy Alliance has some great modifications that could be made to these regulations, and still have the desired effect.
There are a ton of sites out there that have great info on this issue, so it is not hard to get informed. Read through the regulations, see what small business owners are worried about, and see if there is anything that you feel led to do.
As for me, I already wrote to my congressmen and -women. I also wrote to CPSC, asking them to take another look. I’m telling you about it, and I have emailed many others about it.
Why do I care?
Well, I rather like the natural toys. I like the handmade toys. I would rather purchase wooden toys and fabric dolls than the plastic junk that lines store shelves. I like to support small businesses. I also happen to own a small business that could be affected. If these regs stay as they are, I will no longer be able to sell handmade nightgowns, oven mitts and cloth dolls, because I can’t afford to get them tested. Is there any possibility of lead in any of these products? Not so much. They are all made from cotton or wool. No paint to worry about, but that doesn’t seem to matter. No plastic to worry about, but that doesn’t matter either.
Why should you care?
Look at our country – we are already in a recession, people are already losing their jobs at an alarming rate. Businesses are struggling to stay afloat as it is. Come Feb 10, there will be a lot more people struggling to stay afloat. There will be a lot more small business loans that go into default. There will be a lot more small businesses that will have to lay off their employees because they can’t afford to pay them. There will be a lot fewer small businesses open in America. And a lot more unemployed American citizens.
Oh, and those small business owners may be your neighbors – neighbors who can no longer pay their mortgage payments. More houses going into foreclosure or being sold vastly under market-value. More people trying to figure out how to feed their kids.
Yes, we need to come together as a country to support our fellow Americans in this. We need to care.
Please, take a few moments out of your busy Holiday schedule to get informed, to get active, and to tell others about this.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for your support.
Merry Christmas!
… and now back to our regularly scheduled programing!
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