What is this about labeling?

[#1]

I keep reading stuff about labeling come August? What does that mean? Can someone please elaborate? Thank you!!!

[SimmonsCreek]

And there in lies the problem TorreArt2007!

[Former_Member]

Hello,
I have read the attached link for the problem of labels. What I get out of the law stated is that the manufacturer of the product the (clothing maker, blanket producer, fabric maker, etc) has to put a label on the article or material. The person who is adding something like embroidery or embellishments may not have to put another label on the product.
What I read implied that this only pertained to items directed at children ie: toys, blankets, clothing, etc.
Basically it is another way for the government to asses what you are making and selling.
Has anyone spoken to a member of Congress or House of Representatives on behalf of Etsy or other sites like this one to fully understand the law and its affects on hand crafting?
It would probably be a good idea for the etsy teams or etsy itself to investigate the problem way in advance of the upcoming August dead line.

[Former_Member]

If we were to put handmade aside (although this law does affect it) and look at the other items this law will touch, it is just not realistic in any way.
Other items affected are: toothbrush, bottle nipple, bottle brush, hair brush, shoe laces, eating utensils, teething items, wipes. If labeling the packaging does not satisfy our government, I am curious to see if each and every disposable diaper must have an imprinted label on it, or each and every wipe that comes out of the packaged container. Our government really needs to come up for air and get some sunlight!!

[Former_Member]

embroidereddreams says:
the manufacturer of the product the (clothing maker, blanket producer, fabric maker, etc) has to put a label on the article or material. The person who is adding something like embroidery or embellishments may not have to put another label on the product.
What I read implied that this only pertained to items directed at children ie: toys, blankets, clothing, etc.
___________________________

Yes, this only pertains to items intended for children 12 and under.

No, if you do anything to that article or material - embroider on it, paint on it, draw on it, glue something on it, etc. it is considered a totally new item under CPSIA and must be now labeled (and tested all over again) by you the "new" manufacturer of the final product.

See how crazy this law can get?

As to Etsy helping out. Etsy made a lot of noise to us when CPSIA was about to take effect and accomplished nothing and really did nothing to help us. I doubt that it would be any different now.

August is less than two months away. There really is no more "way in advance" anymore on this. It is here and happening with no outlook that it will change.

[Former_Member]

While I can & do put my jewelry on tags, I don't see how I could "permanently attach" a label.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Eliza, you don't have to be in compliance with the labeling unless you are making children's items. By looking at your shop, I don't see anything that is really for under 13yos. I would think your customer is teenage and older.

[Former_Member]

Hey SimmonsCreek. Well, I wasn't really serious about the labeling thing in point 4, although I do imagine that folks will try it! What you said, though, if it's made for children under the age of 12, or appeals to a child under the age of 12!!! Well, that officially makes it stink for me too, I think. And to a lot of others who may not feel like it has an impact on them. I mean, seriously, every child is different, just like we as adults are all different. Who's to say that my bags or Elizas jewels, or anyone elses this and that, isn't going to APPEAL to a child under 12?

I'm sure that there are some legal loopholes written in this thing, that are so deeply hidden, that the bulk of us will never find them and the legal gurus involved with the writing of thing are holding on to. Really, don't you know that they will protect their friends and family at all costs from legal propaganda such as this? And don't you know that they can twist the loosely determineable parts, such as the "appeals to" phrasing, to come down on someone simply because they don't like them, for whatever reason? My gosh! What country is safe anymore??????

[SimmonsCreek]

You are exactly right. That is what makes this law insane.

[Former_Member]

So, forgive me, I have pretty much read all of the replies-11 pages or so, and I am still confused. I guess I just need facts and not rants.

if I am selling little dip dyed onesies, do I need to keep track of the dye I use? lets say I dip dye 3 times with different dyes do I need to keep track of each of the dyes, and to keep track of the clothing as well?

And, up to what age does this apply? 12 years old? 18 years old?

I am reading through about the August 1 deadline. Is this the deadline for the labeling? if you make something and sell it before August 1 are the labels required? What if you just make it before August 1st but don't sell it until after August 1st? Then what?

[Former_Member]

thanks for the info

[Former_Member]

Not really going to effect me too much, but I'm writing for you guys anyway!

[Former_Member]

Lucky you Skaldi

Thank you all for posting! I have to post this...sorry if it is long and winded, but I need to let out some wind ... I just think this law is ridiculous!

I have written my Congressperson in Texas! Please write to yours. Most people in Congress DO NOT KNOW about the details of this law, just like most people.

The fact is - Congress is in support of this law - because it shows they are 'protecing our children'. Most hide behind this falsehood and don't understand how the law will 'work' or affect small businesses or USA.

- If they really wanted to 'protect our children' they would offer FREE testings! So all of us could just go and test our children's toys and such. That would solve the problem b/c once a product was found with lead - all would know and not buy it. The company would go out of business or get rid of lead and be more careful and be fined thousands of dollars that could help fund more guns - put the power with the people!

Congress is giving the CPSIA full annual $21.1 million and 59 FTEs to begin implementing the new legislation in Fiscal Year 2009 and they are requesting MORE MONEY - we PAY FOR THEM TO ENFORCE THIS ON US????

So how many free testing guns would that be for US? Hummmm? instead Congress feels it is more important to fund this new office of people to enforce and regulate and tally and report this crazy law - we pay their salaries, building, office equipment supplies computers, flights etc...

When you write Congress and that is a when not IF - :)

(ALSO! What you write to Congress - give the same thing to your local TV stations - you can find their fax numbers and other contact info on their websites. They too need to know about this law. All of our TV stations in North Texas had never heard of the CPSIA! I only talked to the reporters on duty at the time, but still they didn't know about it.)

Tell them the name of your store that will go out of business - state where you pay your sales or other taxes.

State that this law does not protect children - harms them due to lack of money for food and such from Mommy business - and so forth.



China products are the focus of the threat - why not make this law for them? They have ten thousands of the same exact product, they only have to test one - an item with lead will still get on our store shelves.



Or government is forcing us into an even weaker econonmy by not having ANYTHING maufactured here in US.

All my friends who produce children products and are not afraid of this law are friends who manufacture their products in China and produce a large amount of items that the cost of testing and labels is minimal. (Because let's face it - it is cheaper to manufacture there - mass produce! - that is what our government is supporting - mass production, production not within the US and large corporations - no more American dream).

[Former_Member]

OK, I understand(totally disagree with, by the way!) this impending new law, so I wonder if it affects me, too? I handpaint clear glass plates that are personalized...I assume I am affected too since this is for children?? Anyway, I havent paid much attention to this because I assumed it was about toys, so I have now signed the online petition mentioned earlier & I am writing my senator, congressman, & anyone else I can think of.
I am sick & tired of Government control...like Thomas Jefferson once said, " a government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Let's hope WE continue to control our destiny.

[SimmonsCreek]

Yes, misstishabooshay,
Unfortunately it will apply to your products as well. Pretty sad.

[Former_Member]

So this "label" has to be on the product? I would have to somehow write all this on the back of my plate? Could I just attach a tag with all this information that could be removed by the buyer? What if all of my products are only visual? i.e....canvas artwork, plates still the same, but to hang on the wall or display??

[Former_Member]

So I embroider baby Burps. The diapers come from Wally World and I am sure they will have to be tested for them to sell. One down. My threads have all be tested and I have all the info from them.. #2 down. From what I have read, cotton material is exempt. #3 down. So all I need is a label???

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

for now maybe.

[Former_Member]

waterfallcrafts says cotton material exempt? So if all my childrens clothes are 100% cotton I'm exempt? Sorry -just jumped in here and heard about this- so where do I go to read up on this law?

[Former_Member]

Cotton, okay, but any embellishments (buttons, zippers, etc.) will have to be tested, along with the label since it will contain ink. Read more here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

Here are other two great sites to keep you informed:
http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/
http://600ppm.com/index.php/blogging-the-cpsia/

Good luck to everyone!

[Former_Member]

Its going to cost me a fortune to get labels for my babies shop, sew on labels arnt cheap in the uk.

What do I have to put on them exactly? I buy all my cotton fabric,flannels and fleece, I just cut it out and sew it up.

[ManicMuffinTotes]

I of course have been dreading this labeling thing for a year now.
I just do not understand why? Why do we have to keep up with lot numbers and tracking numbers etc..
It is so stupid. Sometimes I buy one yard of fabric, sometimes I buy six. Why does it matter, I don't have a number of the bolt it came off of, I don't have a date that fabric was made, I just know the maker of that fabric, and who I bought from. Same with thread, why does it matter what spool of thread I used.
When I buy thread I buy 20-30 spools at a time.
Why does it matter??? Am I suppose to write on each one with a magic marker and keep my own supplies labeled so I can keep track of which white thread I used? OMG...So Stupid!

Am I suppose to keep little samples of my materials used for Limeade lil Hoot, in a plastic bag, write a Lot# on it, in case something happens down the road.
This labeling law is so meaningless, time consuming and expensive. It really is a way to knock us out of business, whether they meant it to be that way or not.
I just seriously do not see the point in these labels. It makes no sense.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the clear explanations! This is why I have made no effort to put anything in my shop. I have only been doing sales locally. This whole thing is a mess.

[Former_Member]

Using the ETSY transaction number is a great idea....I also read someone (elsewhere) was going to use different size tags - like 8 9 for August 2009...and so on.

[acorngirl]

Marking. :(

[Former_Member]

Marking also