Hey everyone! Check out this information from Cool Mom Picks. New laws, which are being enacted for reasonable reasons, are going to go into effect in about two months, which will make toys safer for kids, but, at the same time, will also make it extremely difficult (pretty much impossible) for artists and crafters who handmake toys, accessories, and clothes for kids to stay in business. Ok, this is a bit of a jumbly sentence but oh my goodness can you imagine what Etsy would be without all those awesome people making kid stuff? Half of the Christmas presents I got for the boys would not exist. Go to the Cool Mom Picks link and follow their directions to contact your congresspersons. I just did it and it was easy. I added this bit to the sample letter: “So many of the toys and clothing I buy for my three young children are handmade, and many are handmade by local Mainers. Everything in my heart tells me that it’s good to support these local businesses and that providing my kids with these unique items supports our home’s philosophy (be imaginative! be supportive!).”
(Thanks to Design Mom for posting about this, which is where I read about it first. And, on another note, check out her sure-to-be-awesome 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway coming up on Friday.) (There will also maybe be a first World of Julie Giveaway coming up if I can get myself together.)
Thank you so very much for spreading the word. Especially in Maine – there’s so much wonderful stuff made for kids up there!
I’m on it. Thanks for this.
Awkward … I seem to be between Congressional representatives right now. I’ll write to Jim Himes as soon as I can figure out where to send my missive.
what is the word exactly? I just got an earful from Carlos about the internet and how reactionary it can be for the public?
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/summaries/102brief.html
I found the summary which is a little confusing to me – it sounds like they are going to be asked to have a third party or lab evaluate their product or materials. How is that going to put them out of business? Is it like farmers refusing to pay for the high cost of getting certified? Any help on this is welcome.
Yes, they are going to ask a third party evaluate the products, but this is going to cost $4000 per toy for evaluation. There’s an easier-to-comprehend summary here: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/. They also have proposed changes to the legislation (http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Home/our-proposal-to-modify-the-cpsia) that include making it not apply to people who make less than 5,000 units per year.
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