Handmade Toy Legislation

I picked this up from the Doll Quilt Swap Flickr page. I looked in Snopes.com and it seems that this is not a hoax and therefore is even more disturbing. Even if you do not make a living selling things for kids, it appears that this act will make it impossible to buy anything made by small crafters for children.

Thanks Themad1s!

I think this is really important to read and know about. I don't have kids, but the effect of this kind of thing is devastating to everyone; parents, children, artisans, small businesses, etc. I read this online today and felt it was very important to share. We need your help to save handmade toys in the US, Europe and Canada from the CPSIA. We interrupt the tidings of comfort and joy to bring you some heartbreaking news.Of course we're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead.

But this year, the CPSC passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust.They will all go out of business. Period.

Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their toys. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single chemical in them still don't have a single chemical in them.

In other words, handmade toys will now be illegal.

Here's what you can do:-Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here - http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/how-you-can-help , particularly if they serve on the consumer protection subcommittee. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc&lang=&commcode=hcommerce_commerce

Send a letter directly to the CPSC (http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx).-

Join the Handmade Toy Alliance and check out their proposed changes to the act which make a whole lot of sense. www.handmadetoyalliance.org

Spread the word to everyone you know who cares about helping the little guy, particular in today's economy.Thanks mamas. We know we can help make a difference and preserve this important cottage industry, keep good honest people in business, and protect the playthings we all love best of all.

Edited to add: It would seem this act impacts not just toys, but all children's products including clothing, hair accessories, shoes. Please please, if you do one thing today, shoot off an email or two, will you?