CPSIA Links

Hello parents and teachers! Are you aware of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which will essentially put 100s of thousands of small businesses and crafters out of business? This act goes into effect February 10th and requires all makers and sellers of childrens products – ANY childrens products – to test, and retest their components AND finished products for lead. Now we all want our kids to have safe nontoxic products, but this law even requires expensive testing and retesting of products that do not and will not possibly ever contain lead.  I’ve been writing about this on my personal blog but wanted to share the most important links here as well, so you can educate yourself and also help us contact members of Congress who have the power to delay this law’s enactment until it can be amended, or better yet, repeal it and start over. I do not yet know how this will affect my Story Time Felts business, we are are awaiting testing results of our components but I am praying that our government takes notice and understands that without altering this law, America’s economy will be sorely shaken even further than it already is. Please help spread the word!

Below are some website links to government resources and contact information, press releases, news articles and media coverage about this law.

• The actual law, HR 4040 from the 110th Congressional record
• HR 4040 record including which elected officials voted and how, and timeline/record of the law from govtrack.us

Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act PDF Download from CPSC
• Information about the Act from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
• CPSC Regarding Books PDF download Falvey to Adler (still must test for lead content)
• CPSC Regarding Resale/Thrift Stores PDF download Falvey to Adler (still liable if they accidentally sell items with lead content)
• CPSC Regarding Existing Inventory (prior inventory is banned hazardous substance)
• GCC Certificate Guidelines and FAQ from CPSC
• CPSC Regarding Retroactive Application (inventory) PDF Download Falvey to Nord (lead-containing items cannot be sold past Feb 10)
• Prior Toy Recalls History from CPSC
• Sample Letter to send Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Meeting 1-22-09 with CPSC and Apparel Industry reps, includes video and pdf presentations

Congress and its Committee on Energy and Commerce:

• Comittee on Energy and Commerce letter to CPSC urging swift action 1-16-09
• Letter to Chairman Waxman of Committee on Energy and Commerce (from Barton and Radanovich) PDF Download 1-21-09
• Sample letter to send government officials (from Handmade Toy Alliance)
• Tips on contacting your elected officials by phone, mail, email
• Letter from TN Congressmen Blackburn and Duncan to Nancy Nord (CPSC) urging swift action on behalf of garment/apparel industry PDF 1-26-09

From Experts in the Field:

• Example Press Release to Send Local Media
• Save Handmade Toys Group
• Fashion Incubator’s report on why exempting Small Businesses would be counter-productive 1-20-09
• Interview with Kathleen Fasanella (Fashion Incubator) on Injuryboard.com (trial lawyers) 1-19/09
• Learning Resources – Addressing the school supplies market and more.
• Letter from Toy Industry Association to toy manufacturers about the TIA’s efforts
• American Library Association reaction to possible children’s book banning Update: ALA reps met with CPSC reps 1-22-09
• Association of American Publishers
• Reform CPSIA HR 4040 Class Action Lawsuit
• XRF Testing Services for CPSIA Compliance from thesmartmama.com – $5/product or $100/hour (Good only through August ‘09) Some examples of her results/general findings
• National Bankruptcy Day
• CPSIA Central (Ning Forum Group)
• Smart Mama (Attorney)
• Fashion Incubator Etsy Community Forums
• Handmade Toy Alliance
• CPSIA and Clothing Retailers/Department Stores, from Fashion Incubator
• SaveKidsResale

Print and Online Articles:

• Wall Street Journal 1/14/09 Pelosi’s Toy Story
• CNN Money Article 1-15-09
• Forbes Magazine Article 1-16-09
• CPSIA, Continued – Overlawyered 1-19-08
• Follow up article at Forbes 1-22-09
• Consumer Reports Article
• Christian Science Monitor Article
• USA Today Article
• LA Times Article (general)
• LA Times Article (clothing industry) 1-16-09
• Vote on Change.org to Send a Message to President Obama
• Startup Nation: Will CPSIA Affect You?
• Business Is Personal Website

Video:

• ABC Affiliate in Houston interviews hand-made clothing store owner. Visit her website here.
• Example of Vendor Affected: Craftsbury Kids News Interview 1-20-09
• Baltimore NBC Affiliate Video Interview with CPSC Spokesperson Vallese 1-14-09 (mostly about thrift shops. She appears to be confused and is misleading, suggests store owners “look at it” to tell if something has lead etc. and implies there will be little enforcement except most dangerous products)
• Boulder, CO NBC Affiliate video on CPSIA featuring auntieemdiapers.com cloth diaper company 1-14-09

Audio:

• 10 Minute Recording of interview with reps from CPSC, Handmade Toy Alliance, and American Library Association, addressing concerns . January 12.
• Podcast from The Takeaway – Interview with rep from CPSC and a Thrift Shop owner

If you know of any other resources I should add to this list, please let me know in the comments. Thanks in advance for helping raise awareness of this cause!