Q&A: Can someone with legal experience regarding the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act answer this?
Question by : Can someone with legal experience regarding the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act answer this?
I am a Work-At-Home-Mom. I make custom baby carriers and sell them. Each of my carriers is one-of-a-kind. I buy my fabric from nationally trusted retailers such as JoAnn Fabrics, etc. I do not buy loads of fabric since I make them on an order-by-order basis (so I can customize for my buyer). How is the CPSIA going to affect me in particular? I am not the one importing the fabric or thread. Shouldn’t my supplies be tested before I buy them? Also, even if they are tested, I usually only buy fabric remnants instead of whole reels. It would be ridiculous for me to ask for certificates for 1 yard of fabric. I feel like this whole thing is going to put me, and a whole bunch of others like me, out of business. How can I possibly afford to have each and every one of my baby carriers tested for lead?
BACKGROUND INFO:
Congress passed a law in August 2008 called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This law came about because of the numerous recalls of children’s toys in the past two years and specifically the issue of lead in the toys. While I applaud the attempt at making children’s products safer, the law as stands, will actually remove many of the products that we have turned to in place of those made in China.
As of February 10th, 2009, ALL children’s products sold in the United States will need to be certified to be lead free and many products will need additional testing. To be certified, the final product sold needs to have each component on it tested for lead. This sounds wonderful when you think of all of the “Made in China” children’s products that are out there and all of the children’s items that are mass produced (mostly imported). HOWEVER, think of the handcrafted items sold within the US. Think of any children’s item that is a ready made item that has been personalized with a child’s name (it would need to be retested because it is the final sold product that needs to be certified). Think of the children’s items that are sold at craft shows, garage sales, ebay, consignment shops and fundraisers. As of February 10th, it will be illegal to sell any children’s products without certification, no matter when it was produced. Collectible vintage toys and trains? A “banned substance”. You will not be able to donate items for charity because they are a “banned substance” since they are not certified. This applies not only to toys, but all products such as books, shoes, clothing, school supplies, sporting equipment, jewelry, etc. that are possibly intended for children 12 and under.
Best answer:
Answer by Howard L
Legal is nothing for you to be concerned about. The worst thing that could happen is you will be ordered to give refunds to anyone who wants one and you will be ordered to stop selling them.
What you need to worry about is product liability. If a child is injured and you don’t have product liability insurance they will take every last dollar you have now and get every dollar you will ever earn. You might be able to sue the suppliers of your materials but the legal bills will ruin you.
What do you think? Answer below!
Q&A: Why are there so many stupid question on Y!A regarding race?
Question by Little Miss Chatterbox: Why are there so many stupid question on Y!A regarding race?
Why are there so many stupid questions on here which are deliberately designed to offend people? I was just looking around and I came across too many questions saying things like “Why do blacks want to become criminals/gangsters?” or “Why are white people always fishing for compliments?”, those are just a few of what I’ve found. What are these people’s problems? Why do they feel the need to be so ignorant, disrespectful and immature to each other? How can they not see that these stupid questions are not productive in society?
Best answer:
Answer by Kat
Sorry to say that’s y/a for ya. There’s a lot of children of all ages at this site. Many of the intelligent ones don’t come here anymore for that reason and others.
I hope you stay around a while. We could use more people saying it like it is for real.
What do you think? Answer below!
Q&A: Can someone with legal experience regarding the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act answer this?
Question by littlesnugglebuggles: Can someone with legal experience regarding the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act answer this?
I am a Work-At-Home-Mom. I make custom baby carriers and sell them. Each of my carriers is one-of-a-kind. I buy my fabric from nationally trusted retailers such as JoAnn Fabrics, etc. I do not buy loads of fabric since I make them on an order-by-order basis (so I can customize for my buyer). How is the CPSIA going to affect me in particular? I am not the one importing the fabric or thread. Shouldn’t my supplies be tested before I buy them? Also, even if they are tested, I usually only buy fabric remnants instead of whole reels. It would be ridiculous for me to ask for certificates for 1 yard of fabric. I feel like this whole thing is going to put me, and a whole bunch of others like me, out of business. How can I possibly afford to have each and every one of my baby carriers tested for lead?
BACKGROUND INFO:
Congress passed a law in August 2008 called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This law came about because of the numerous recalls of children’s toys in the past two years and specifically the issue of lead in the toys. While I applaud the attempt at making children’s products safer, the law as stands, will actually remove many of the products that we have turned to in place of those made in China.
As of February 10th, 2009, ALL children’s products sold in the United States will need to be certified to be lead free and many products will need additional testing. To be certified, the final product sold needs to have each component on it tested for lead. This sounds wonderful when you think of all of the “Made in China” children’s products that are out there and all of the children’s items that are mass produced (mostly imported). HOWEVER, think of the handcrafted items sold within the US. Think of any children’s item that is a ready made item that has been personalized with a child’s name (it would need to be retested because it is the final sold product that needs to be certified). Think of the children’s items that are sold at craft shows, garage sales, ebay, consignment shops and fundraisers. As of February 10th, it will be illegal to sell any children’s products without certification, no matter when it was produced. Collectible vintage toys and trains? A “banned substance”. You will not be able to donate items for charity because they are a “banned substance” since they are not certified. This applies not only to toys, but all products such as books, shoes, clothing, school supplies, sporting equipment, jewelry, etc. that are possibly intended for children 12 and under.
Best answer:
Answer by jerry-the-bookkeeper
Write to your congress person and your states senators. Ask them to sponsor a bill exempting domestic craft products from testing provided that the components are lead free.
Then contact everyone you know and know of involved in making and selling domestic craft products and ask them to do the same thing.
If enough people write enough members of congress corrective action will be taken.
Hope this helps
Jerry-the-bookkeeper
What do you think? Answer below!