1) This is not something you can pin on Bush. This was sponsored and babied through by the most liberal elements of the Democratic party. It is not a reflection of Bush, but on how moronic the whole political establishment is.

2) Beyond blog comments, I hope everyone has contacted their representatives asking for an exemption for small and thrift shops.

I belong to a quilting guild and our concern
is: Will this law affect hundreds of Charity quilts
that we donate to children shelters?

Could someone help me on this Please?

Thanks!

Lead is more likely from china..let's boycott China goods if the US is doing this to us!!!!
http://WWW.ENCHANTED-MERMAID.COM

However, if they are caught selling an item that has too high of a lead or phthalates content they are in direct violation of this new law. I work in a children's consignment shop and it is amazing to me that it has taken this long for information regarding this new law to get out to the general public. This law also made it illegal to sell an item that has been recalled as of August 2008. Why didn't anyone bother to notify these stores? We have always encouraged anyone purchasing toys or baby equipment (playyards, cribs, bassinets etc) to check the CPSC's website to verify an item has not been recalled. We give them a week to do so and return the item for a full refund if indeed there is a recall. Apparently we've been breaking the law for about 6 months. Why all the secrecy? Are they purposely withholding information so the can raid the country after Feb 10th and bust everyone who still doesn't know about this law? When there is a recall on a toy etc it is plastered all over the news, but a law of this magnitude is top secret? Highly suspicious in my opinion!

This law is going to make all aspects of successfully running a consignment or thrift store with children's products so difficult and time consuming most won't be able or willing to do it anymore.

I also agree this law is a knee-jerk reaction to all of the recent lead paint recalls on toys and is outrageously over the top.

I also suspect that this is another way for George W. Bush to try and squash the 'little guys' and promote big corporate business. It's no secret that he doesn't beleive in the small business 'American Dream' and rather promotes the rich getting richer. He doesn't beleive in labor unions, fair pay and practice for American workers and doesn't support domestic labor period; he'd rather keep every country except ours working and employed. He has never had to want for anything and is so ridiculously out of touch with the bulk of our country, this new law makes this fact even more painfully obvious. 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' and by all means, let that door hit your ass on the way out for all I care. It's not suprising that he managed to find one more way to hose this country before his presidency ends.

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.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

Second, if you are affected, then ignore the law and earn your living as you have been. 99.9% chance they won't bother with you.

As many have mentioned, we must assume that larger companies will be in a better position to pass these tests than smaller firms.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a0Xr2Iw1Vi_8&refer =us

It also exempts items which have lead but it's not accessible (like the screwed-on battery compartment of an electronic toy).

There is still a lot of fuzziness in this tho, such as, dyed fabric - ok, or not? That wasn't addressed specifically.

This was just voted on yesterday (Jan 6). Wood, cotton, silk, pearls and gemstones are exempt, IF in their natural state (untreated, undyed). It may not have made it to the CPSIA site yet.

Incidentally, the disclaimer on the CPSIA FAQ's is interesting. Apparently the opinion of their own employees (the ones enforcing this law) isn't the opinion of the actual agency.

"These FAQs are unofficial descriptions and interpretations of various features of CPSIA and do not replace or supersede the statutory requirements of the new legislation. These FAQs were prepared by CPSC staff, have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. Some FAQs may be subject to change based on Commission action."

Sounds like this bill needs to go back to the drawing board ASAP!

Also, who actually considered this law to be a good idea? It's so over-reaching, so inclusive that it's kind of suspicious.

Also, [obligatory snark about centuries of children "surviving" handmade clothing and toys].

My understanding is that the law applies to both domestic and imported "children's products" (not just limited to toys and clothes). Imported materials have to include a certification of testing.

Natural materials are excluded, so cotton, wood, etc. are exempt from the rulings (but painted stuff still have to comply with the testings).

This is a knee-jerk law due to the lead paint in kids toys from China scare. The law is badly written, and enforcement would be prohibitive.

This is an old game: get regulations imposed that penalize some (usually small) businesses to profit their (usually large) competitors.

It ain't liberal vs. conservative. It's just economic warfare disguised as social policy.

I found it curious, however that a cursory reading of the law makes no specific mention of "clothing" and any reference to fabrics only asserts compliance with the Flammable Fabrics Act. So by interpretation cloth and yarn might be safe, as well as clothing that is made with domestic materials.

Specific mention is made in Section 102 on what is to be mandatorily tested:
Lead paint, cribs and pacifiers, small parts, children's metal jewelry, baby bouncers and walkers.
No mention of clothing, although "small parts" might mean buttons and zipper pulls.

Also the section on phthalates concerns toys and "child care" items, not articles of clothing.

My interpretation? You might see the toy and trinket shelves cleared, but probably not much of the clothing, and grandpa making toy cars out of scrap 2x4's is most probably ok as long as he uses paint made in America and the parts are larger than 5 cm.