Comments on: Please Act on the CPSIA

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:34:20 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to post relevant links for activism here, Miriam. I have been wanting to write my rep/senators for some days, but hand’t made the time to find the right info to actually do it. I agree with your post wholeheartedly. I participate in food preservation groups and natural parenting groups as well as fiber groups and there are a lot of members of all the groups I’m in that are really concerned about this legislation. I’m printing copies to mail now.

The comments to this pose underline the fact that what this law needs is more clarity. There is a lot of confusion about it, all over the place. I don’t object to new rules concerning product safety, necessarily. I think most everyone would like to have chidren’s products be safe. It’s just that this law doesn’t really seem to do that in a sensible way. It’s like taking a flamethrower to your house to cure an ant problem, as another blogger put it.

By: Elizabeth L in Apex, NC

Elizabeth L in Apex, NC — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:57:21 +0000

Further to Susan’s comment, Wikipedia has the following clarification regarding testing for Phthlates: “CPSC General Counsel Falvey provided an advisory opinion on 17 October 2008 that the phthalate ban does not apply to children’s footwear. Falvey provided an additional opinion on 17 November 2008 that the ban does not apply to wearing apparel, but does apply to toy costumes, bibs, sleepwear…” Further, the Wiki description indicates that certification of a product doesn’t need to be done by an individual on every item, but it must have been done by someone on along the production chain and the seller must be able to prove it. I don’t know if this is accurate, but if so it makes things difficult but not impossible for small mfrs.

However, my big issue is: what about the stuff already on the shelves? It has to be destroyed – really? Are they kidding? What a wreckless, ignorant plan for a policy that has the potential for good.

By: susan

susan — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:12:33 +0000

My understanding is that as long as the manufacturer of the yarn, etc. used in the hand-crafted product has had it tested and certified, the crafter can rely on that. So, I thought it was just a matter of finding a supplier who had done the testing.

By: Carole

Carole — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:54:33 +0000

There seems to be a lot of confusion over this legislation. I’ve read things that make it seem like it won’t apply to knitted and sewn items but then I’ve read the opposite, too. I trust change.org and I’ll go read what they have to say.

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:44:41 +0000

I saw this last week and was just horrified. I’ve already pestered my congressmen. I can’t imagine that they would actually pass something like this.

This is exactly why I think there should be less government, not more.

By: Stefany

Stefany — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:33:54 +0000

A clarification has been made to the bill, to exclude reselling (i.e., Goodwill and vintage objects). These products do not need to be TESTED.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/cpsia.asp