CPSIA (New Bill Related to Selling/Reselling of Children's Items)

I wasn't going to go all political and blog about this, because I cannot adequately cover all the points. But then this morning I realized, after watching a local news report, the impact the legislation would have on all of us. Not just me, the sometimes-maker of children's clothing. Not just you, the sometimes-buyer of locally and independently handmade children's clothing and toys.

With regard to children's items, none of us could legally buy from, donate to, or sell through bookstores, eBay, Craigslist, thrift stores or resale shops. This also applies to garage sales. The specific lead content of each component of each and every item has to be tested.

What? The government couldn't even source those tomatoes or jalapenos that made so many people ill this past year. I have no idea who will enforce this law, but the implications are just sick. It's anti-American, anti-environment, and anti-ME!

I could change what I make and sell in heartbeat. But I can't stomach the destruction of existing toys and clothing cycling through the used-product market. Where would all of that go? I'm going to incorporate links into this post, rather than pretent to know all the ins and outs. I was annoyed that my local news didn't get into the specifics of this legislation (simply refering to it as "a new bill"), so here's that,

H.R. 4040: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

2007-2008
Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL]
show cosponsors (106)

Listen to the statement from Nancy Pelosi.
This bill is urgently needed. There were 45 million toys and children’s products recalled in 2007 – including Barbie accessories, Thomas the Tank Engines, toy magnets, and lead-coated jewelry. As a result, the Consumers Union labeled 2007 “The Year of the Recall.” Certain toys and children’s products were found to contain nearly 200 times the legal amount of lead.

It was a signed into law August of 2008, by the way.

We aren't making these toys. These are toys primarily manufactured overseas. These are not items made of natural materials such as wood or cotton. Let's address the real issue.

What if they applied the same standards to food, saying we had ship off our produce to be tested, even on the level of the independent grower or mom-and-pop foodstand. Could you imagine?