As many of you know, I have been working with thousands of other home based crafters and small businesses to let Congress know of the disastrous effects of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (CPSIA). On Friday night we received a bit of good news from the Consumer Products Safety Commission- that they are granting a 1 year stay of the law. This means that I will not have to stop embroidering baby items for the next 365 days.
Unfortunately, the CPSC can only issue a stay, they cannot change the law. And because of the way in which the law was written, significant changes must be made in order to protect my business and thousands like it-large and small. Several opposing groups are threatening to sue the CPSC and overturn the stay--so we're not even sure if the stay will help.
Senator DeMint (SC) is introducing legislation on Tuesday will present much needed reform to the CPSIA:
1. Delay the regulations six months. There is massive confusion and uncertainty in the small and home business community. The regulations are unclear and compliance will be practically impossible for many manufacturers. His bill will delay the implementation six months so that all parties can work together to address the needs of our small businesses and the needs of product safety.
2. Allow small manufacturers to use the testing and certification that their component suppliers have done to certify that the components do not contain an impermissible amount of lead. Lead isn't going to come out of thin air. If the lead's not in the components, it won't be in the product. This will save small manufacturers from having to subject their products -- many of which are made in small runs -- to duplicative and expensive multi-thousand dollar tests. (Ex- To test a single terry cloth bib with Velcro enclosure and a monogram would cost $500 to test-as the law is written each bib that goes out of my studio would need to be tested. They sell for $9)
3. Exempt thrift stores, yard sales, consignments shops and other re-sellers from the prohibitions in the act. Goodwill, the Salvation Army and your local flea market were never the source of the product safety concerns encountered last year, and they won't be in the future.
4. Prevent retro-active enforcement of the act. There are millions of dollars of safe products in the warehouses and stores around the country today, that come February 10 will be un-sellable. These products have not threatened the safety of the public in any way, but because they haven't been subjected to the expensive certification requirements of the act, retailers will not sell them and are often demanding that manufacturers eat their costs. It's completely illogical that a product that's safe for sale on February 9 somehow becomes completely unsafe on February 10.
5. Require the CPSC to provide small businesses with a compliance guide. This bill would require the CPSC in consultation with the state and federal Small Business Administrations to develop a compliance guide that addresses the concerns of the small business community.
Please take a few minutes to contact your Senators and ask that they support Senator DeMint's bill. It was only because of the tens of thousands of telephone calls, emails, and letters to Congress from concerned citizens- crafters and consumers alike- that we have gotten this far. But we are not out of the woods yet. We need this legislation-which will still protect children from the dangers of lead- but will also protect small sellers and small businesses.
You can find the contact information for your Senators here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
When you call, simply explain that you request that your Senator support Sen. DeMint's legislation- and request a written response on whether the Senator will co-sponsor issue.
Thank you so very much for your help.
Sincerely,
Laurel Schreiber
http://www.lucys-pocket.com