Save Small Business from the CPSIA - Ideas for Change in America

There should be provisions for regulation of testing fees, as a part of the CPSC testing lab certification. Sliding scales for small and micro businesses should be a part of that. At this time, there is no regulation whatsoever of the now mandatory testing fees, and that leaves the labs free to charge whatever they like, and many of us feel like we're at the mercy of the labs.
Component testing MUST become a part of the equation - if a small handcrafter can send in a swatch/sample book for lead testing (and send in a swatch/sample whenever they restock materials), they can actually comply. For example, I know I can figure out how to afford to test my fabric/finding/notion stock, without adversely affecting my costs, especially if the testing costs are REGULATED.
ASTM nontoxic and other materials manufacturer certifications for domestic sourced materials (fabrics, paints, craft materials) should be allowable, if the MSDS/certification is sent along with the other component test results. It would reduce the burden on the testing system.
Finally, implementation should be pushed back to allow the labs to catch up with testing demand. There simply is not enough time for the results to come in before the deadline.

Suggested by Branwen Townsend on 01/20/2009 @ 12:22PM PT

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As of this writing, over 800 Etsy sellers have listed items at special 'CPSIA Certified Prices.' Take a look here-
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=cpsia&search_type=tag_title&page=1&order=price_desc&min=&max
or this shorter link here- http://tinyurl.com/7lmg5h

Let's educate our government about the true costs small businesses face with CPSIA testing. Email the following Etsy listing (or one of your choice from the URL above) to all of the lawmakers below. Make sure it's the full listing, not just a link. You can bet they'll take notice, especially if we all encourage everyone we know to do the same. Let's slam them with the truth!

Email Subject: Look how expensive this bib is thanks to CPSIA

CPSIA Sale -- Giraffe Bib, Burper and Blanket from the Baby Boss Serengeti Collection $4,620

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_15&listing_id=18661738
Baby Boss takes its role as a responsible corporate citizen very
seriously, and we strive to provide items that are not only stylish, but are also safe for your little ones to use. Although we have never been given any reason to believe any of the items we sell are harmful, Congress is under the impression that ALL children's items are toxic until proven otherwise. Therefore, we now offer products that are fully compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

We realize the price is a bit off-putting, but please allow us to explain. According to the regulations outlined in the CPSIA, each component in each piece we produce must be tested individually for lead and phthalates by a third party lab. On average, lead testing costs $70 per component and phthalate testing runs $350 per component. The Serengeti Collection contains three items, or a total of eleven components, so, well, you do
the math...

In the spirit of generosity during these extraordinarily harsh economic times, shipping on this item will be complimentary.

Christian.Fjeld@mail.house.gov, robin.appleberry@mail.house.gov,
andrew_grobmyer@pryor.senate.gov, james_reid@rockefeller.senate.gov,
brian.mccullough@mail.house.gov, shannon.weinberg@mail.house.gov,
william.carty@mail.house.gov, nnord@cpsc.gov, jmartyak@cpsc.gov,
MToro@cpsc.gov, tmoore@cpsc.gov, patrick.magnuson@mail.house.gov,
cfalvey@cpsc.gov, judith.bailey@mail.house.gov,
richard.goldberg@mail.house.gov, matthew.abbott@mail.house.gov,
Brian_hendricks@hutchison.senate.gov' david@commerce.senate.gov,
Cathy.hurwit@mail.house.gov, pweller@cpsc.gov, mgougisha@cpsc.gov,
bridget_petruczok@boxer.senate.gov, michael_daum@cantwell.senate.gov,
bill_ghent@carper.senate.gov, hap_rigby@demint.senate.gov,
frannie_wellings@dorgan.senate.gov, david_quinalty@ensign.senate.gov,
james_chang@inouye.senate.gov, jonathan_becker@klobuchar.senate.gov,
michelle_schwartz@lautenberg.senate.gov, lee_dunn@mccain.senate.gov,
sonya_wendell@mccaskill.senate.gov, matthew_hussey@snowe.senate.gov,
brendan_plack@thune.senate.gov, hugh_carroll@wicker.senate.gov,
elissa.levin@mail.house.gov, christopher.schepis@mail.house.gov,
theresa.lavery@mail.house.gov, greg.louer@mail.house.gov,
brian.diffell@mail.house.gov, amy.ingham@mail.house.gov,
laura.vaught@mail.house.gov, matt.johnson@mail.house.gov,
saul.hernandez@mail.house.gov, aaron.shapiro@mail.house.gov,
rick.axthelm@mail.house.gov, steve.plevniak@mail.house.gov,
scott.cleveland@mail.house.gov, jonathan.smith@mail.house.gov,
pat.cavanagh@mail.house.gov, rachelle.wood@mail.house.gov,
michael.gaffin@mail.house.gov, angela.manso@mail.house.gov,
dana.lichtenberg@mail.house.gov, derrick.ramos@mail.house.gov,
elizabeth.stack@mail.house.gov, lori.pepper@mail.house.gov,
josh.connolly@mail.house.gov, david.bahar@mail.house.gov,
mark.bayer@mail.house.gov, Neeta.Bidwai@mail.house.gov,
kyle.victor@mail.house.gov, chris.debosier@mail.house.gov,
morgan.jones@mail.house.gov, matthew.dockham@mail.house.gov,
tuley.wright@mail.house.gov, cade.king@mail.house.gov,
betsy.christian@mail.house.gov, chris.herndon@mail.house.gov,
Mike.Ward@mail.house.gov, laura.abshire@mail.house.gov,
randi.meyers@mail.house.gov, Greta.Hanson@mail.house.gov,
liz.muro@mail.house.gov, jamie.euken@mail.house.gov,
jon.oehmen@mail.house.gov, brad.schweer@mail.house.gov,
dana.grayson@mail.house.gov, michael.beckerman@mail.house.gov,
valerie.henry@mail.house.gov, Becky.Claster@mail.house.gov,
tiffany.guarascio@mail.house.gov, jeff.mortier@mail.house.gov,
Christopher_day@billnelson.senate.gov, john_phillips@kerry.senate.gov

Suggested by Cecilia Leibovitz on 01/19/2009 @ 05:22PM PT

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I think we should start calling/writing/emailing these popular news talk radio hosts. Would love to create a booklet of pictures of items that will be crushed by this law and send it to them.

Here is a copy/paste I found online of some of the most popular and of course could include many others.

Rush Limbaugh
Call-in: 1-800-282-2882
Fax: 1-212-563-9166
Email: Rush@eibnet.com
Mailing address:
The Rush Limbaugh Show
2 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121
Rush Limbaugh Homepage
Sean Hannity
Call-in: 1-800-941-SEAN (7326)
Contact the show
Mailing address:
The Sean Hannity Show
2 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121
Sean Hannity Homepage G. Gordon Liddy
Call-in: 1-800-445-4339
Email: liddyshow@aol.com
Mailing address:
The G. Gordon Liddy Show
8750 Brookville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
G. Gordon Liddy Homepage Neal Boortz
Call-in: 1-877-310-2100
Email: boortzshow@cox.com
Mailing address:
The Neal Boortz Show
1601 W. Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Neal Boortz Home Page Michael Reagan
Call-in: 1-800-468-MIKE (1-800-468-6453)
Fax: 1-888-226-4430
Mailing address:
Michael Reagan Show
PO Box 6061-405
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
Michael Reagan Homepage
Pam
www.rebekahsbowtique.com

Suggested by Pam Crowson on 01/19/2009 @ 12:46PM PT

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Why can't it be stated that crafters use their SUPPLIERS material data safety sheets (MSDS) that show the products they use to create something with doesn't contain lead? I have many MSDS sheets from my ribbon suppliers...there is NO lead. When I sew a bow, I do not go dip it into lead before shipping it out. How will twisting a ribbon, sewing with WHITE NYLON thread bring lead into the product?

I also believe something needs to be done concerning the tracking labels that go into affect on August 14. Small crafters, cottage industries, etc... do not have the resources or the money to invest in something to create a tracking label for a handsews/created items. Many times the tracking label would be BIGGER than the product produced. This needs to be addressed and small crafters NEED TO BE relieved of the requirement of tracking labels.

I think we need to make some sort of commercial! The poster earlier who mentioned showing a grandmother rocking in a rocking chair with her knitting beside her in a basket and her hands empty....a group of children playing outside with beautifully colored clothing (handmade) and slowly the color starts to fade to white, a little boy playing with a wooden firetruck (saw one just this weekend at a place in West Virginia handmade by a local artist)...the truck disappears from his hands and he starts to cry, that sort of thing.

I wish we could get a group of us on Oprah or Martha Stewart. That would REALLY get the word out. Oprah could speak to each of us, show a few of our items up on a big screen and let her audience "OOH and AAH" that these things will soon disappear.

One lady on Etsy is taking pictures of many items from many different crafters and compiling them with a statement how the CPSIA will be taking these things away. She sends copies of these booklets out (I think) every week to Oprah, congressmen, etc.... we could do that too. She also took them to her representatives and met them face to face.

More ideas on the way!

Pam <><
Creating bows for your most precious gift
www.rebekahsbowtique.com

Suggested by Pam Crowson on 01/19/2009 @ 12:05PM PT

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-Please pass this on to anyone who might find it of interest-
This press release can also be viewed here:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200901/1232389542.html

"Save Small Business from the CPSIA" Places in the top 10 Ideas for Change on Change.org

For_Immediate_Release:
United States of America (Press Release) January 19, 2009 -- Montpelier, VT, January 19, 2009—Last Thursday, the Handmade Toy Alliance’s (HTA) initiative on change.org, won its place as one of the top ten ideas for change in America. On Friday, January 16th, “Save small business from the CPSIA” was presented to President-elect Obama's change.gov/transition team at a press event in Washington DC. In the weeks to come, the HTA will partner with a non profit organization to develop a national campaign to enact its idea for change.

The HTA is a grassroots alliance of 237 toy stores, toymakers and children's product manufacturers from across the country, who want to preserve consumer access to unique handmade toys, clothes and children's goods in the USA. Since November of 2008, they have been working to bring awareness to the impact and unintended consequences of the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) on small businesses throughout the country.

Cecilia Leibovitz of CraftsburyKids.com, a handmade children’s items store based in Vermont, spearheaded the change.org campaign for the HTA. “I'm amazed at how quickly people rallied together to show their support on Change.org. In just a couple of days into the second round of voting, there were over 2,000 votes to 'Save Small Business from the CPSIA.' To finish with over 12,000 votes less than a week later was just incredible.” Leibovitz goes on to say, “There is still a lot of work to be done. This was a huge milestone, but the law has yet to be changed.”

In the last few weeks, as the HTA’s idea for change gained momentum, many members of Congress, including Rep. Weiner (NY), Rep Barrett (SC), Sen. Snowe (ME), Sen. Levin (MI), Rep. Dent (PA), Rep. Holden (PA), Rep. Gerlach (PA), Rep. Platts (PA), Rep. Carney (PA and Rep. Pitts (PA), wrote to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), requesting hearings and directing the CPSC to provide common sense clarifications to small businesses regarding the implementation of the CPSIA. This past Friday, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, including Rep. Rush (IL), Rep.Waxmen (CA) , Sen. Rockefeller (WV) and Sen. Pryor (AR) , the group which originally sponsored the CSPIA, wrote a detailed letter outlining the work that the CPSC needed to do to clarify and properly implement the new legislation.

“We are greatly encouraged by the show of Congressional support our change.org initiative has brought us,” shared HTA member Jill Chuckas, owner of CraftyBaby.com, in Connecticut. “But we know that we still have a lot of work to do. We are hopeful that the new administration will quickly recognize how easily they can affect change with this issue.”

Cecilia Leibovitz, Craftsbury Kids (Montpelier, VT)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 802-223-7143
ceci (AT) craftsburykids.com
handmadetoyalliance.org

Dan Marshall, Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care (St. Paul, MN)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 651-695-5559
dan (AT) peapods.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org

Jill Chuckas, Crafty Baby, Owner, Designer (Stamford, CT)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 888-788-5168
jill (AT) craftybaby.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org

Rob Wilson, Vice President, Challenge & Fun
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 888-384-6200
hta (AT) challengeandfun.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org

The Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) is a grassroots alliance of 237 toy stores, toymakers and children's product manufacturers from across the country, who want to preserve unique handmade toys, clothes and children's goods in the USA.

Suggested by Cecilia Leibovitz on 01/19/2009 @ 11:05AM PT

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Marie - I don't believe books are included. I recall reading a letter from a member of a booksellers organization and the response they received and it sounds like most books are exempt (with the exception of books that come with toys and books that are made of materials such as plastic.)

I *do* wonder, however, about the expense that will be incurred to purchase new puppets, counting blocks, desks, chairs, supplies, and other school aids that are still included under this law. It seems to be pretty ambiguous as to whether or not items in a school setting would fall under "secondhand" rules or if they would have to be replaced. I taught for a few years at an elementary school (a well-funded one even) and they had quite a bit of stuff that was probably at least a decade old. I'm sure it was safe, but...

Suggested by Candice Mangum on 01/19/2009 @ 10:45AM PT

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I have looked for information regarding the ban of lead in paints in the U.S. It appears that on September 2, 1977 the CPSC banned lead in paint and set up testing through The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. For a full listing of the materials tested go to: www.acminet.org. Paint that has been tested as safe to use (as well as crayons, glues, adhesives, stains, etc.) have the ACMI seal which states that it conforms to ASTM D 4236. This business has been certifying safety and quality for 68 years and now they want me to go somewhere else to have my products retested even though the only materials I use have that seal. Our government now has so many regualations and restrictions that they don't have any idea what is in force and what is not.

Suggested by Nancy Beecher on 01/19/2009 @ 09:19AM PT

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How do I vote? I don't see anywhere to vote!!!!!
rickplframes@aol.com

Suggested by Rick Steier on 01/19/2009 @ 09:07AM PT

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Has any one pointed to the amount it is going to cost our schools to replace the books which are noncompliant? I know that our school systems can barely afford what they are doing now without this added expense.

Suggested by Marie Diehl on 01/18/2009 @ 06:39PM PT

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Oh, something else I found that's going on already:

A Mail-in campaign has been organized on etsy.com:

(Sorry if you don't have an etsy username and can't see this:)

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5949146

Another link with the general idea:

http://organicbabyfarm.blogspot.com/2009/01/join-cpsia-mail-in-protest.html

Also: Have we considered getting a group of small business owners together and trying to get a meeting with Obama? Or another person who has power to help?

Suggested by Candice Mangum on 01/18/2009 @ 04:18PM PT