About
CPSIA -Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
The Consumer Protections Safety Improvement Act of 2008 was passed to remove lead tainted toys from our markets. Unfortunately the law is problematic, wordy and at times contradicting to itself. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission is left the task of interpreting the law and setting the standards. The CPSC is daily reviewing and adding clarifications and opinions. However, those are not currently part of the law. They still have to pass the vote. Congress set the law to go into affect before the kinks were worked out.
I'm still working on this page. If you have anything to add to this, send me the info. Please click on the highlighted words to go to those links. They do a much better job of explaining it.
Grab a cup of coffee, pop in a video for the babies, tell the kids to play outside and start reading. Please realize this law affects you regardless. Everyone will be touched by this law.
Why would anyone protest a law banning lead from toys?
Retroactive inventory - in the now famous Falvey opinion, all inventory produced today, yesterday, 30 years ago is held to the new law. PLEASE read the link, just click on the title. Rick gives a great explanation and has a flurry of letters back and forth concerning this.
3rd party testing - Well, to start off with, 55 of the 88 certified labs are in Asia. Yeah, you read that right (forgive if I counted wrong. I do have littles running around.) The very countries that sent us tainted products full of lead to begin with are now the ones who are in charge of certifying our products. Anyone not understanding why that’s a problem?? But even if you choked that down and had the money to test and send to China, there is no way there are enough labs to test the products. The backlog is going to be great. Too great to be handled.
Markings - Another nice part of the law is labeling. Products must have a tracking label permanently affixed to it. Click the word to get an understanding of just how difficult this is.
Batch Testing - OH BOY Here is the big smoking gun. Sounds simple. If you take one bolt of material and make three size dresses or diaper covers or slings or whatever. You know how you get the most out of that bolt. Each of the final product must be tested. If the sku number is different......new test. Run out of thread and use new thread. New test. Just be glad you don't have telescopes for sale! Actual quote for telescope testing, click here.
Product range – Basically if you think it’s intended for a child under 12, it’s covered. And talk is running high that the intent is important here, not the label. Items like books, cds, bicycles, telescopes, microscopes, video games, clothing, shoes,…. ANYTHING marketed and intended for use by your child. Walk around the house, ramble into the local school, stop in a daycare, look around the church nursery …. If you saw it there, it more than likely falls under this law.
Exemptions and clarifications are smoke and mirrors- That's right. So far the clarifications are just restating the law. Go to Smart Mama for a good read on that one.
Groups heading up the charge
Handmade Toy Alliance Has tons of links. Read it all.
Fashion Incubator Don't think it applies to clothes. Think again!
Smart Mama - Think Goodwill's safe - She explains why they're not
Learning Resources - He's a one man fighting machine! Read and watch!
CPSIA Central - Devoted to all things CPSIA
American Library Association - They are waiting for ruling to allow them to lend books to kids. IF they don't get the ruling, children under 12 will be banned from books until the books get the certificates required by law.
Petitions