So sad. Very soon you can say "bye-bye" to all things Wee WhiMSy love. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a law that will go into effect on February 10th, 2009 mandating testing for lead and phthalates in any and every item intended for a child 12 and under. The testing is SUUUUPER expensive & quite ridiculous for little ole crafters like me. Wanna know more? Read my best Etsy friend's blog. She put it very well: LittleDaisyChains.blogspot.com Though this law doesn't affect me that much, I still stand alongside my crafty counterparts who create, more specifically, for the smaller humans in this world. This sucks.
UPDATE: The testing has been postponed for a year! Wheeee! Read about it HERE.
This issue is so sad and the impact huge.
ReplyDeleteThe "Save Small Business from the CPSIA" ended up being one of the top ten ideas (#6) for change in America on change.org and it has been presented to President-elect Obama’s transition team.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the insane parts of this law get flushed and rewritten.
That is absolutely ridiculous! I just don't understand how the people who wrote that law couldn't see how much harm it would be doing to the "little guy" - I can't even wrap my brain around it. Grrrr...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. This is really awful for crafters who earn a living from making items like this. I really hate to see this happen.
ReplyDeleteThis is just so sad...
ReplyDeleteThis legislation is so tough on small people. Home testing is possible until August 2008 with kits (they can be bought in Canada) but it isn't plausible for most. People should know that they can contact their Congress person and Senator via email (snail mail is redirected to D.C. for a 6 week anthrax test) to voice concerns and suggest amending the CPSIA.lab
ReplyDeleteIt's completely ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was using Super Elastic Bubble plastic in 1976 that you had to put on the end of a STRAW, no one minded a bit!!!
And I'm f-f-f-f-fine... :)
It's a terrible burden and I'm shocked to see how many things this affects. I'm shocked that it affects your onesies.
We need to protest.
I also am hoping beyond all hope that the new administration takes a closer look at the law and who caused the problems in the first place.
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked, crafters like you weren't loading up my kid's toys and sippies with lead and melamine.
Aw, man ... just at the point where I start hoping to add a child to my life, I find out that this stupid law will severely curtail my intent to buy handmade things? That is insane. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIt would make sense...if we weren't getting stuff exported from china that's been killing/choking kids. Heck, it's still happening...yet they wanna put a grasp on the little crafter? pfft.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry :( Your creations are so cute!
ReplyDelete