How do I legally sell handmade teddy bears?

[JaDazzles]

Hi,
I am sorry to bother everyone, but I am in need of HELP!!
I got the idea to start crafting and selling teddy bears after I made one for my daughter out of some left over fabric. I guess I should of researched this more closely before I bought 1,000 beautiful buttons that I found on eBay!! =(
Can anyone tell me if I can legally craft and sell teddy bears, made with cotton fabric, silk applique noses, polyester batting and buttons?
Sorry to have to ask, I really request, or beg for your advice!
Thanks so much!!!

[knitwit4ever]

You can, but not without some record keeping and probably some testing of your materials and/or finished products.


The fabric (uncoated, not waterproofed), polyester batting and maybe the noses are probably exempt from lead testing, but you'll need to keep track of what items you use. The buttons, however, are not exempt and will need either the CPSIA-format testing results from the manufacturer or you'll need to get them tested yourself.

You may also need small-parts/choking hazard compliance.
You will need CPSIA-compliant labels and probably FTC labels as well.

Best of luck! This section of the Forums has many threads addressing specific issues.

This thread has many good links for research:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6385178

[KittredgeMercantile]

For adults and collectors you'd be fine.

[JaDazzles]

Yes, I was intending these to be on the shelf keepsake bears. I don't use buttons on my daughters toys. I have been looking around, and I think I found the list of exempted materials, do I still need a label? I also like to make fleece baby blankets. Do I need labels for those also. Thinking warm for the winter! Thanks for the replies!

[knitwit4ever]

The CPSIA doesn't really distinguish between toy bears and keepsake bears, unless you can show that they are not made for kids. That's hard to do as they would certainly appeal to kids. Perhaps the best you could do would be to show that they appeal equally to all ages, but that's still open to interpretation by the CPSC. Being compliant would likely be wise.

Labels--I answered in your other thread. Yes, you need them (both FTC and CPSIA). The links are in the above thread I gave you.

[LazyTcrochet]

Some states also have regulations for stuffed toys, or stuffed anything.

[Former_Member]

Have you considered labeling them as "artist bears"? I used to make collector bears and sold many of them on Ebay, but always listed them as collector artist bears, and in the description I pointed out that they were for the adult collector and for display only, and not to be played with. I used mostly mohair, or recycled old fur coats. Mohair used for the old-fashioned artist bears got way too expensive, so even though you're using cotton, you can still call them collector or artist, since they are wonderful displayed on a shelf. A lot of people still make those folk-art dolls that look like a very old raggedy doll. How do they list them without a problem? I haven't looked, but if you do a search, you'll probably find that there isn't a problem.