If you buy, make or sell products for a child ages 0 – 12 then you should care about the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) that will take effect on February 10, 2009.
I believe that CPSIA was passed by Congress in an attempt to make children’s products safer. (Children’s products meaning a product designed and intended for a child ages 0 – 12).
What Does CPSIA Say?
CPSIA puts into place limits on the amount of lead that can be in children’s products. There will be required safety testing to include testing and certification by independent third-party labs. There will be fines in place for manufacturers and retailers who do not have their certifications in place by the deadline dates.
Well, that sounds nice and safe for our kids, right?
The Problem With CPSIA
Small Businesses Can’t Afford The Testing
Plain and simple. Big businesses might be able to afford the costs but the grandma selling handmade afgahns at the craft fair or the mom selling cloth diapers online certainly won’t. We’re talking about having each style of product tested at a cost estimated anywhere from $100 – $4,000 per item.
Secondhand Stores May Go Out Of Business
At a time when many more families are turning to secondhand stores or resellers to be able to afford quality products at affordable prices it’s sad to think that they may end up shutting their doors. While resellers don’t have to “certify” the products they sell, they could face penalties if they sell products that are in violation. So that means that resellers will have to use their magic powers to verify their products are safe.
12-year-olds Aren’t Putting Toys In Their Mouths
Come on, my 7-year-old doesn’t put toys in her mouth. My 10-year-old certainly doesn’t. So I highly doubt that in two years he’s going to be putting lead-based products into his mouth.
The CPSC has documented that children over the age of 3 don’t put toys in their mouth. Yet, they’re still requiring that all of the products geared towards children up to the age of 12 be tested. Why?
How CPSIA Affects Me, the Consumer
Higher Prices
Manufacturers are going to have to spend big bucks testing products. Who do you think will end up eating those costs? Assuming that the company can stay in business after CPSIA then I’d assume that the consumer is going to have to pay extra bucks to help recoup some of those additional costs.
Fewer Small Businesses/Specialized Products
Forget buying those eco friendly cloth diapers. Forget that handmade christening gown. Forget that hand carved toy truck. Forget that really awesome science experiment kit your son saw on the internet yesterday. Those items will be gone.
What Should We Do?
I’m all about action not just complaining. I am a strong supporter of taking action. I would like to see the Consumer Product Safety Commission make some reasonable alternatives such as:
- Allowing certification of the components of the product to be sufficient versus having each individual finished unit certified.
- Making exempt items manufactured from wood, paper, cotton, etc. that are unlikely to contain lead
- Giving some exclusions to handmade items or small businesses
So here is what you need to do.
1. Stay Informed.
Check out National Bankruptcy Day for updated info.
2. Sign the Petition
3. Write your Member of Congress
I want to keep my children safe.
I do so every day of their lives.
But I want commonsense regulations – not these drastic and burdensome requirements.
