the CPSIA is confusing, wordy & a big giant blanket that requires ALL products marketed toward children be tested for lead. while i do think that the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has good intentions it could also cause most independent toy makers to close shop. this is probably not what we need during a recession like this. lead testing costs upward of $400 per test and the way the act is worded you would need to test each individual material you use to construct your item. for example. i make little mohawk hats so i would need to test the printed fabric i use and the solid part i use for the fringes... if i use the same pattern fabric from two different rolls i'd need to test those separately. people would need to test each spool of thread they use & each skein of yarn used. its just unrealistic for handmade items.
so the update on all of this is that there is a one year stay of this act minus a few details. basically we still have to make sure our products are lead free we just don't need to prove it until next year. this does probably make sense for things that typically hold lead like paint & metal but who ever heard of lead in fabric?? really, i have no sympathy for companies like Mattel & Playskool but the little guys will suffer the most w/ a bill like this in effect.
i'm so excited that i've made 4 sales so far and am relieved to have another year to play around with this venture! if it does pass next year i will either be out of business OR finding something crafty to sell to adults (but that's no fun!)
NPR recently did a little story on this issue
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