As you may know, I avoid the news. Most of it is intentionally manufactured to induce fear among the masses or it's just too depressing. I have a hard enough time staying positive for my family without concerning myself with the freak accident that happened in California or where ever.
I stumbled upon this blog today concerning the CPSIA and am appalled. There has to be WAY more thought put into legislation.
Go ahead Google "cpsia" ,"cpsia and thrift" or "cpsia and homeschooling" and see for yourself.
Read the law here and take note of how much will be considered illegal starting Feb. 10, 2009.
In a nutshell, all products marketed for children under age 12 must be tested for lead content. No longer will you be able (as the law is now written) to purchase new items (clothing, toys...)not tested, or donated items at a thrift shop, consignment store or GARAGE SALE! Legally, I'm reading, you can't even hand-me-down clothes to another family without breaking the law. You could be slapped with fines of up to $100,000 and charged with a felony.
This also includes (as per page 24 of the law) educational materials. I'm wondering...will I be able to resell my grade school kid's math books when I'm done with them? Will I be able to buy used books? How will the libraries function? Or do they not consider what's inside to be educational?
This, my folks is a scary thing.
Please tell me this is all a bad dream, I don't even want to think about it anymore...
3 comments:
from what I have learned, no you would not be able to do anything with the books except send the to the land fill. WAY TO BE GREEN, CONGRESS! I can tell you if this law goes through my kids will eventually be naked. We don't buy new clothing. Why waste Jeremy's hard earned money. It is a huge mess from what I am calling "greedy, have waaaaaay more money than they know what to do with, tooooo stingy to buy "used" or accept a "hand-me-down" legislators. I am praying it is all a hoax also but from what I have found, I am afraid it isn't.
Happy day.
Legislative Update
January 9, 2009
As a result of the outcry from citizens, small business owners, and
non-profits, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released an
_important memo_
on its policy for sellers of
used children's products, including used books.
A Law Affecting Children's Items
The memo clarifies policy regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement
Act that affects selling children's items. According to this law, beginning
February 10, 2009, products for children 12 years old and younger cannot be
sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead.
Children's products such as books that may contain lead in the paper or ink and are
accessible to children through touch are included. The statute indicates
that paint, coatings, or electroplating may not be considered a barrier that
would make the lead content of a product inaccessible to a child.
Good News for Used Book Sellers
According to the new CPSC memo, the new safety law does not require
resellers or sellers of used children's products to test products for compliance with
the lead limit before they are sold.
"The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that
children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety
standards and the lead ban. 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.
"The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products
in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.
However, 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."
As of August 14, 2008, it became unlawful to sell recalled products. All
resellers should check the CPSC web site (_www.cpsc.gov_
for information on recalled products
before selling items for children 12 years old and younger.
New Book Sales Still in Limbo
New books printed prior to the ruling are also affected by the law changes.
As the law is now written, new books in production are required to include a
"lead-free" certification to be legal to sell. This will greatly affect
booksellers at homeschool conventions and local curriculum fairs, as well as
books sold on the Internet. It will also affect the availability of books for
homeschoolers to purchase.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Contact your local representatives. For their contact information, enter
your zip code at the following link:
_http://capwiz. com/americanappa rel/dbq/official s/_
Once you have found your
representatives, click on "Issues & Legislation" for a sample letter.
E-mail or call the the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070 or
_www.cpsc.gov/ cgibin/newleg. aspx_
Call 301-504-7923 and ask for Nancy Nord, the acting head of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission; if she's busy, leave a message.
Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category
will be presented to President-elect Obama.
_http://change. org/ideas/ view/save_ handmade_ toys_from_ the_cpsia_
ACT NOW before the February 10 deadline!
Whoa! I had no idea even BOOKS would be included in that! I've already signed the petition and I think it's an awful, awful law. Bleurgh! Hello, Big Government!
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