Possible exceptions for small businesses under CPSIA

[#1]

It looks like they are considering some material based exceptions under the CPSIA...

http://bit.ly/68rs

good work! Let's keep the pressure on them...they still need to vote on it!

And the CPSC said they had no flexibility...yea right!!

[Former_Member]

very interesting.... and hope filled. thanks for the info.

[Former_Member]

marking - thanks little pink, your explanation was great.

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

I just wanted to comment that most materials I use in my crafting are not made in the US. The yarn I'm crocheting with right now is made in Turkey (Lion Brand and Coats and Clark). Almost every piece of quilters cotton I own (over 500 yards) was made in China, Japan or Korea. Some of it was printed in the US, especially the pieces that I have had for 5+ years, but it is getting harder to find fabric manufactured in the US. Even the pricey $10/yd designer quilt fabric (Free Spirit, etc) is not made in the US. My point...exempting materials made in the US will help some small businesses, but most still work with imports.

[GoTo]

Back to read after Christmas!

[Former_Member]

Well, accoring to page 5 and 6 of this document:
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/leadlimits.pdf

it looks like yarn might be exempt, even dyed yarn, no matter where you get it from. Like I have said before, I am not shutting down until someone from the government makes me.

[Former_Member]

Same here, butterfly. We KNOW our products are safe, that's why many of us went into business doing this in the first place. To be honest I don't see the government shutting anyone down just for not testing unless there was an actual documented problem/violation with a specific product.

[Former_Member]

quirkybags
quirkybags says:
I just wanted to comment that most materials I use in my crafting are not made in the US. The yarn I'm crocheting with right now is made in Turkey (Lion Brand and Coats and Clark). Almost every piece of quilters cotton I own (over 500 yards) was made in China, Japan or Korea. Some of it was printed in the US, especially the pieces that I have had for 5+ years, but it is getting harder to find fabric manufactured in the US. Even the pricey $10/yd designer quilt fabric (Free Spirit, etc) is not made in the US. My point...exempting materials made in the US will help some small businesses, but most still work with imports.
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Right...I hope and expect that all the materials I buy are safe for MY use and are safe to use around my children. Nothing changes just because materials are made into something to be used for children. All of the materials we buy for creating should be safe to use.

[Former_Member]

I should add....I'm thinking of the materials like the ones that I use...fabric, yarn, etc. I know that a lot of crafting materials can be dangerous to children.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

The way I am reading this the exemption would only apply to natural materials that have are unadulterated and unalterated by pigments, dyes, finishes, processes. So that doesn't seem to exempt printed fabric. Am I wrong here?

[Former_Member]

Haven't read this whole thread, but WHOOO, HOOO so far!!

[EmbellishedLife]

The way I read it, it seems that you'd be able to get a formal ruling from the Commission about your product (s), which would lift the burden of having to get everything that you make tested.You'd still be responsible for getting proof to the government of the lead content/proof that the lead content is not harmful in your items, and they want scientific evidence as to the components.

So it would still cost you to test the item, but it might be a one time thing, if you use the same type of items, or components over and over, thus releasing you of the necessity to test each and every thing you make. And, of course, it would cost to send such request to the Commission.

So, $$ out of your pocket, either way. At, least, that's my interpretation, I'm no lawyer :D

[fuzzyjewels]

marking :)

[EmbellishedLife]

I was commenting on
http://bit.ly/68rs

Going to muse on yarn as that's what I use, even though I don't make children's things.

As for http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/leadlimits.pdf:

Most yarn undergo chemicals and processing, so one would still have to prove that whatever was done to the yarn is safe. Tricky, bamboo , for instance, soes through a heck of a process to become yarn, not environmentally friendly at all.

Hmmm, so for instance:

Lion Brand Collection Organic Wool Yarn is described as thus:

Article # 481
It is 100% organically produced wool and dyed with low impact dyes, certified according to Global Organic Textile Standards by the Institute of Marketecology.

Would the certification from the Institute not be enough? Unless you're making something that involves significantly changing the makeup of the supply in question, why shouldn't that be enough?

Makes one wonder the REAL reason behind the bill. Under the auspices of protecting our children, big business (who can afford the costs) clobbering artisans and small ones out of the market?

[Former_Member]

I have a CPSIA-themed treasury going!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=28934

[EmbellishedLife]

And of course, God forbid that they hold the IMPORTERS and MANUFACTURERS to higher standards, eh, as that might affect our trade agreements? Pfft.

[EmbellishedLife]

FayeMaloneDesigns said:
The way I am reading this the exemption would only apply to natural materials that have are unadulterated and unalterated by pigments, dyes, finishes, processes. So that doesn't seem to exempt printed fabric. Am I wrong here?
******************************************************
Probably not. And if you use vegetable dyes, you have to prove it wasn't grown in a contaminated environment? Insect dyes, they didn't eat contaminated earth? Whoooo! I can see the market for "all-natural" dyes exploding :D

[SalvagenationVintage]

Our small town newspaper ran an article just yesterday about the CPSIA, it was an eye opener for many people. The article was about drumming out the mom and pop organizations and the heart of craft fairs. It was well written. One thing the article did bring out was the fact that although this is in place, many little exceptions and changes are being "considered" and very active voices to the legislature are getting the ears of "the man". It even stated that although this would go in place in Februrary, there was still plenty of time to save the small artist and his craft. I know all of us working together can get the job down correctly.

[Former_Member]

thanks SalvageNation! is the article online? what newspaper did it appear in?

[Former_Member]

marking - thanks for all the info folks.

[Former_Member]

embellishedlife...i'm in the same boat. I produce a lot of products using GOTS certified organic fabric. I contacted the manufacturer and she said she didn't know if the certification would satisfy the CPSIA certification but was looking into it.

[Former_Member]

Regulatory Flexibility Act
Im just a young mom who graduated high school, no understanding of law talk or anything but my husband kinda threw this at me tonite. Wondering what it is and why he says this and doesnt seem worried about all this. He said it will all be cleared up and not to panic. Small businesses have some protection and Regulatory Flex. Act is part of it. Is he just trying to comfort me or is there some merit to this. LOL he'd be ticked if he knew I just asked all this. But im curious. And it would comfort me some I suppose if someone else knew what the heck he's talking about.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I just did a search and read briefly the Wiki description on the Regulatory Flex Act. Your DH may have just hit on something. My feeling is to write explaining how as a 1 woman micro manufacturer, there is really no way that I could feasibly pay for testing on any level and still stay in business, as I know is the same for many if not most of you also. To me, all of this should be addressed at the import level. I know that much of the fabric and other supplies is manufactured out of the country. Good grief I just bought a package of bias tape, and it is now being made in China. If we are allowing bad products to enter the country, it should be up to the suppliers who contract for these products to police their sources. Not the people who use them. And maybe products should be tested by customs before it enters the market place in any form.

[RebekahsBowtique]

RebekahsBowtique says:
Please take a peek at this page ...the NAM PLAN...

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

We can print out the 15 page document, attach a statement that you agree with it and mail it to the address at the top. It states on pages 6 and 7 about FABRICS, PAPER, etc....it would help a LOT of us!!! Please do this!
Here is the 15 page document (also a link to it on the above link as well)
http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/PDFs/Safety/CPSCPetition1208.pdf

[RebekahsBowtique]

RebekahsBowtique says:
Please take a peek at this page ...the NAM PLAN...

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

We can print out the 15 page document, attach a statement that you agree with it and mail it to the address at the top. It states on pages 6 and 7 about FABRICS, PAPER, etc....it would help a LOT of us!!! Please do this!
Here is the 15 page document (also a link to it on the above link as well)
http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/PDFs/Safety/CPSCPetition1208.pdf