That sounds like a good thing, until you think of all the items that will be effected.
Handmade toys, clothing and books.
Hand-me-down toys, clothing and books.
Thrift store toys, clothing and books.
Donations to thrift stores and "community closets."
Items sold on Ebay/half.com/Amazon/craigslist.
Items sold at garage sales.
Large manufacturers won't have a problem with this regulation. Economies of scale will allow them to do testing and labelling en masse and they'll just pass the cost on to consumers. Small manufacters and small business will have a problem with this - CPSIA is one more nail in the coffin for entrepreneurs.
Many of the children's clothing pieces that have made their way through my house got minimal use - this regulation means that I'd be violating the law if I buy a hand-knitted sweater on etsy.com, or sold some gently-used books to a consignment shop. My grandma will be breaking the law when she knits caps for newborns in local hospitals, or sews small quilts for use by kids in domestic violence shelters.
I want to protect kids from the dangerous health effects of lead exposure, but COME ON! The set of never-used onesies that I want to give to the Salvation Army shouldn't make me a criminal.
I'm steamed. And I plan on regularly breaking this law. I emailed my local Congressional representative to ask what he is doing to protect local businesses and non-profit outreach from this POS regulation. (I didn't phrase it that way, though). Those in Mr. Higgins' district can do the same through his web site.
Update: a Florida newspaper has an early word on clarification of the regulation from the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), which sales consignment and thrift stores are not effected.
Thank goodness!
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