CPSIA...SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND...

[belovedbows]

I have been trying to keep up with all this stuff, but everything you read has so much legal jumbo I can't make heads or tails. It's not written that the average everyday person can understand (or maybe it's just me LOL).

First I called all my representatives, half of them didn't even understand the law. I worked very hard at that (it even put me behind in my work). Then it was like everything was okay. Everyone was happy and it was business as usual. Then a list came out about what was exceptable to use. Now there is more and more shops preparing to close due to this law. I don't even know what to do. I went to the website where I buy all my materials and they provided a consumer product safty report that states all there product are in complience and they have certificates from the manufacturers. So...since I buy my materials from them and have all my reciepts can I sell my finished products without being in violation of the law?

[Former_Member]

I'm right there with you. I'd like to be legal and all (even if I vehemently disagree with the way the law is being handled in this case), but it would sure be nice if someone would just lay out for me what I'm supposed to be doing! I barely have time to stock my etsy shop (sometimes not even that), much less do a ton of research on all the extra things I'm also supposed to do. Agh! It's enough to make me just throw up my hands and walk off. Which is, I suppose, what a lot of people are doing.

One website that may be helpful to you is overlawyered.com - http://overlawyered.com/tag/cpsia/ I haven't had time to read much there recently, but they seemed to have some good coverage of stuff when I was trying to keep up on the CPSIA stuff this past winter, and have some good links to other websites, too.

Hope this helps! (And let me know if you figure it out! LOL)

[Former_Member]

With the documents that you have you can continue to sell until Feb. 2010, when everything (the completed item - a sample from every lot) will have to undergo testing by an approved third party lab and component compliance will no longer be permitted.

What you are reading now on this forum is the sudden realization that in one month in August every item must be permanently labeled with very detailed and specific things. There are a lot of threads here that explain what "we believe" must be on the label. For many this labeling will not be reasonably possible and they are talking here about shutting down or focusing on non-children's items.

There are also concerns about the new chairperson and new member soon to join the CPSC as they are both pro-CPSIA enforcement as written, which will put CPSC on a three pro to one reform standing. At that point no one knows what will happen with what has been temporarily permitted to date.

Had pressure not been let up on Congress following the Stay, things would have been very different now and we might have a reform bill. Now the reality of that is slim to none.

[Former_Member]

Don't even try to call the CPSC trying to get helpful information. I get transfered all over the place from person to person with NO ONE offering any help.

We need to pressure congress again. This can change, but we need to fight.

[Former_Member]

pastperfect says
Had pressure not been let up on Congress following the Stay, things would have been very different now and we might have a reform bill. Now the reality of that is slim to none.
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Sadly I agree with this statement.

I think the only hope now would be if larger industries (let's say bicycles) would put up more of a fight but then again if that accomplishes anything it would be an exemption for that specific item. Won't help the rest of us.

Wow things are scary these day.

[bobbinalong]

I think one of the problems is that the CPSC took major manufacturers, importers, businesses from hometowns across America, handmade businesses, and charities and thrift stores and put us all in a big pot, stirred, and gave us all the same rules and regulations. It just won't work! Congress and the CPSC haven't figured that out yet. So, in the meantime, we are stressing trying to figure out this labeling for August. What a manufacturer does, and what I do are totally different.

[Former_Member]

Had pressure not been let up on Congress following the Stay, things would have been very different now and we might have a reform bill. Now the reality of that is slim to none.
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I disagree. There has been a movement maintained through various channels and I think changes will be made. The fact that industries are still seeing stays come out of CPSC and that CPSIA was a major topic at the confirmation hearing of Tenenbaum, indicates this is a forefront issue for many.

Not all the changes we want to see will happen. It may not save all our businesses, but I think some will be able to continue.

[Former_Member]

Today I called my congressman and asked to recieve information on how many requestes they were getting in reguards to all this mess we are now facing along with several other questions. I was handed over to a supervisor that works for my congressman he again asked for another email to him and he will get back to me. HMMM maybe the daily email and phone calls are getting to them? Maybe not... I was afraid of this though when the stay was enforced that everyone would go back to business as usual and this is exactly what congress wanted dodging this issues again. Some of us have been relentless and I am sure that we have become the office breakroom name. Somedays it seems as I cant go on but I find the energy somewhere and I hope that so many are keeping the gloves on in this long fight we are approaching the last rounds and we can still get this done so lets not give up!

[woodponddesigns]

This is the BEST information I've seen (most readable)
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/smbus/cpsiasbguide.html

My issue is that I'm making a product out of safe materials that are exempt from needing testing (Table B from the link above). I also have the certification/statement from the manufacturer. So, why do I (or do I) need to have my own certification?

[Former_Member]

Purplemoonfibers says:
Don't even try to call the CPSC trying to get helpful information. I get transfered all over the place from person to person with NO ONE offering any help.

We need to pressure congress again. This can change, but we need to fight.
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Don't bother asking a question through their "Contact us" page either. NO answers coming from there.

[belovedbows]

Man, I think they purposely make this hard to understand so we won't know how to fight it! I guess I will keep pressing on with my congressman and senators, Luckly have a senator who agrees there needs to be some changes to all of this. It's just so hard to call and speak to someone about the change when you can barely understand it yourself. Good luck everyone, and lets keep pressing on, who knows, maybe change will come.