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Free to Be Toyless and Lead Free
Jan. 15th, 2009 12:42 amWednesday's Wall Street Journal has an editorial about the pending CSPS lead rules nightmare. Its probably the most high-profile coverage the issue has gotten thus far. But more still needs to be done.
I encourage you to write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper about this issue. If you want details, contact me. LTEs can be a great force for getting the word out to folks who might not otherwise realize the firestorm that is about to come down.
The recent CPSC ruling about books (read the .pdf) is particularly scary. Basically books for children - like Board Books, for example - are not exempted from the law, despite no book ever having been recalled for lead content. So the already stressed publishing companies are now going to have to choose whether they test for lead or simply don't publish.
One bright spot is that on the 8th the CPSC issued a "clarification" (of sorts) (full text here) that basically says the new law only applies to items manufactured after Feb 10th. I had to read it a bunch of times, but it basically says -- well, I'll just quote it, I guess -- "Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards". So that's good, we don't have to test or destroy all the used clothing, toys, and other stuff that's out in the marketplace.
However, the text goes on to say that "...resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties." So they don't have to test, but if the CPSC finds that you are reselling a used item that is in excess of the lead limits, you're in trouble.
Over the weekend I had a very vivid dream about this. I dreamt that it was The Day and that there were these huge toy bonfires on every streetcorner and toy collectors like me were frantically trying to save Fisher Price Dollhouses and vintage stuffed toys from the flames. Armed men were storming houses, trying to take toys away from children. At one point I think we were burying some toys in the back yard.
I'm honestly tempted to spend quite a lot of money we don't really have to stockpile some things for E - mostly vintage things, but some new, handmade things as well. I have to think that with all the pressure on Congress they'll do .... something. But I'm not optimistic. I doubt this is in the top ten things Mr. Obama has on his desk for his first couple of weeks in office, and I don't believe that Congress really understands the urgency of the situation. Its only when Grandmothers can't sell handmade dolls and baby socks at craft fairs any more that the reality of the situation will sink in, but by then all my local toy stores will be long out of business.
I encourage you to write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper about this issue. If you want details, contact me. LTEs can be a great force for getting the word out to folks who might not otherwise realize the firestorm that is about to come down.
The recent CPSC ruling about books (read the .pdf) is particularly scary. Basically books for children - like Board Books, for example - are not exempted from the law, despite no book ever having been recalled for lead content. So the already stressed publishing companies are now going to have to choose whether they test for lead or simply don't publish.
One bright spot is that on the 8th the CPSC issued a "clarification" (of sorts) (full text here) that basically says the new law only applies to items manufactured after Feb 10th. I had to read it a bunch of times, but it basically says -- well, I'll just quote it, I guess -- "Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards". So that's good, we don't have to test or destroy all the used clothing, toys, and other stuff that's out in the marketplace.
However, the text goes on to say that "...resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties." So they don't have to test, but if the CPSC finds that you are reselling a used item that is in excess of the lead limits, you're in trouble.
Over the weekend I had a very vivid dream about this. I dreamt that it was The Day and that there were these huge toy bonfires on every streetcorner and toy collectors like me were frantically trying to save Fisher Price Dollhouses and vintage stuffed toys from the flames. Armed men were storming houses, trying to take toys away from children. At one point I think we were burying some toys in the back yard.
I'm honestly tempted to spend quite a lot of money we don't really have to stockpile some things for E - mostly vintage things, but some new, handmade things as well. I have to think that with all the pressure on Congress they'll do .... something. But I'm not optimistic. I doubt this is in the top ten things Mr. Obama has on his desk for his first couple of weeks in office, and I don't believe that Congress really understands the urgency of the situation. Its only when Grandmothers can't sell handmade dolls and baby socks at craft fairs any more that the reality of the situation will sink in, but by then all my local toy stores will be long out of business.
