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Marketplace:  URGENT! Toy safety in America - *another update*  |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 11 2008 : 3:16:11 PM
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Panel Exempts Some Products From U.S. Lead Rules (Update1)
By Mark Drajem
Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- The Consumer Product Safety
Commission voted to exempt electronic goods and products
with lead embedded inside from new rules banning the
metal in toys.
The two-member commission, reacting to complaints from manufacturers, also agreed to exempt natural products
such as gems and cotton from mandatory testing for lead.
The proposal, given initial approval today, will be open
for public comment for a month and may be altered.
Companies had urged the safety commission to pass more
far- reaching exemptions and to put them in place
immediately, before the ban on lead in toys takes effect
Feb. 10.
“The deadline is coming up very, very quickly,” said
Sheila Millar, a lawyer representing the Fashion
Jewelry Trade Association. Companies “want clarity and
they need it quickly,” she said.
Still, companies shouldn’t expect a crackdown, said
Julie Vallese, a spokeswoman for the commission.
“There’s a need for compliance, but it’s fair to say
that the toy police will not be descending on all of
America on Feb. 11,” Vallese said.
First Overhaul
Congress passed the first overhaul of consumer protection
laws in almost two decades last year in response to a
spate of recalls the year before of Chinese-made toys
containing lead. While previous regulations included
limits on lead, the law toughened the standard and
expanded its reach to all products aimed at children 12
and under.
That expansion has ensnared makers of products such as
bicycles and books that never thought of themselves as
toymakers, said Ed Krenik, a lobbyist at Bracewell &
Giuliani LLP in Washington.
The law also forces all makers of children’s products to
get independent tests of their toys to prove they don’t
contain lead.
Lobbyists representing makers of products such as books,
handheld computers, bedding and shoes banded together
to petition the commission to exempt them from the new
lead standards. They say the independent commission
should also remove glass, bolts, mattress padding and
other components of products that present no risks to
children.
The proposed exemptions considered today are “incomplete
and provide no process for adding additional materials
which are known to science to not contain lead,” a
coalition of handmade- toy sellers wrote to the CPSC on
Jan. 3.
The CPSC exempted wool, cotton, silk, gemstones and
pearls in its proposal today.
The panel also faces pressure from consumer groups to
keep the standards tight. The only lead in toys the
commission ruled was “inaccessible” was that which
children couldn’t touch, a standard Millar argued is
too tight.
“The agency is aware that this one-size-fits-all law
doesn’t necessarily fit all sectors,” Vallese said.
“But the laws are set and Congress was very explicit.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Drajem in
Washington at mdrajem@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a0Xr2Iw1Vi_8&refer=us
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Not sure if any of you have seen this on etsy, but here's the link:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5949146
What a great way to get the point across.
I think the CPSIA will be ammended. It is in first place by FAR, in the economy section! So if you haven't voted, vote, and if you have, congrats for supporting such an important cause!
If you've voted and still want to get the point across here's an idea
QUOTE: from the etsy convo....
Here is the address of his Washington office (this is from his official website so I presume he intends it to be public knowledge):
Rep. Bobby Rush
2416 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Let's make sure we don't put "Hazardous Substance" on the outside of the box, or else they'll have to call in the bomb squad or something.
Suggested text for enclosed letter:
On Feb. 10, 2009 this item will turn into a
[really big font]HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE[end really big font]
Don't let this happen!
I am a crafter [or artisan; I don't want to reopen that debate] who makes and sells one of a kind items for children. It is financially and physically impossible for me to do all the lead testing that the CPSIA requires. Since all my products will legally be classified as "hazardous substances" on Feb. 10, 2009, I am sending one as a gift to you. How else am I going to get rid of it, if it will be a felony to sell it? Hopefully you can find something to do with it before Feb. 10 too, so that you don't have to call in the hazmat team to take it away.
Of course, Rep. Rush, if your committee would reconsider the interpretation of the CPSIA, I might not have to go out of business...
Sincerely,
[your name]
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Edited by - MsCwick on Jan 07 2009 12:43:44 PM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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lacisne88
True Blue Farmgirl
1181 Posts
Chelsey
Lake Stevens
Washington
USA
1181 Posts |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 07:12:36 AM
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Thanks Christin...This is important stuff.. I appreciate you watching this one :).. Just one more reason for "homemade christmas'" :)
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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yarnmamma
True Blue Farmgirl
4247 Posts
Linda
Clarks Summit
PA
USA
4247 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 07:21:17 AM
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I just voted too.
Let's keep this bumped up.
Linda in Scranton, PA
farmgirl #71
Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful Farmgirl New Year!! |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 08:08:16 AM
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Email the link to everyone you know who is affiliated with the handmade industry;
even if it's not necessarily someone who makes children's things.
It went from 467th place to 108th. I need 270 votes. People are voting on other ideas faster than this one. It only has 8 votes. We need 268 more.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!
www.thelittlegreenstore.net
Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are. - Roosevelt |
Edited by - MsCwick on Dec 12 2008 08:25:33 AM |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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pumpkinhaus
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Dani
South Bend
IN
USA
21 Posts |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2008 : 10:42:12 AM
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| I saw that! It was posted by Craftsbury kids' cecilia. isnt this great. I sent her the link to the one i created, then craftsbury created their own, which has gotten the RIGHT amount of publicity! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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kpaints
True Blue Farmgirl
1564 Posts
karen
cheney
wa
1564 Posts |
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Tammy Claxton
True Blue Farmgirl
1559 Posts
Tammy
Glen Burnie
Maryland
USA
1559 Posts |
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ThePixiesPlayhouse
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Terri
Biggs
CA
127 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 5:11:26 PM
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In reading about the law I found this in the FAQ
"Q. Where must these certificates be filed?
A. A certificate does not have to be filed with the government. As noted above, the certificate must "accompany" the product shipment, and be "furnished" to distributors and retailers, and be furnished to CPSC upon request."
Does this mean once I received a certificate, I would not have to show it to anyone, since we sell directly? What is the point........? Talk about frustrating!
________________________
Farmgirl #428
"It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought, without accepting it"
Aristotle |
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Marketplace: URGENT! Toy safety in America - *another update* |
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URGENT! Toy safety in America - *another update*
