video recording of CPSC public meeting

[#1]

I haven't had a chance to watch this, but it's the video from the public meeting held on January 22nd (two meetings, actually). One on apparel, and one on books.

CPSC Public Meetings: Apparel and Footwear ( http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/apparel.html) and Books ( http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/publishers.html)


I apologize if this has been posted, I didn't see it when I looked.

[Former_Member]

Invest in Velcro!

[Former_Member]

and wood ;-)

[Former_Member]

Velcro, Elastic, Wood buttons with bees wax, what else can we use instead of zippers and snaps on childrens clothes?

[Former_Member]

artisansgifts - can do like they did in victorina times - tie everything -

or get ladies maids to sew the kids into the garments and then to take them out. lol

[Former_Member]

Even more interesting is the lead in to the Books meeting. You can watch that one here:
http://tinurl.us/60f750

It sounds like the head of the CPSC is disgusted with it all, but has her hands tied by the "letter of the law".

[ManicMuffinTotes]

Marking.. Thanks!

[Former_Member]

it's very interesting...I'm still watching

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for sharing. What I find interesting is when they wrote the law why didn't they do this research first?? Seems kinda crazy.

I'm still watching it.

[Former_Member]

Nancy Nord opened up the afternoon meeting with this:

"...it is becoming very, very apparent...that these deadlines are unrealistic and they are I think potentially damaging-- both to the businesses that have to deal with them and also to this agency which really needs to implement this act in a sensible, serious manner that really addresses true risks of injury to consumers...

...the Legislation does not give us a lot of latitude for dealing with these issues that are coming up. We are working very hard to try to figure out ways we can implement the spirit of the legislation without imposing unintended and undue consequences on folks who are manufacturing perfectly safe products but that is a challenge for us given the way the statute is written..."

I think she gets it. I really, truly do...

[Former_Member]

marking

[RebekahsBowtique]

Oh yes, I truly believe Nancy Nord gets it. The problem is CONGRESS who needs to revisit how this law is written and the short time they gave the commission to implement it. Yet, congress will never step up and say they made a mistake.

It looks very promising for fabric, the only thing I ever thought to consider for testing would be the metal clips I use sometimes. Already contacted the manufacturer and they are fine, but still I want to have one tested to have the results. I pray fabrics are exempt!

[Former_Member]

I finally got the videos to load. Congress put the enforcement and regulations into the hands of CPSC. The actual law is vague and does not make the demands that the regulations make - which CPSC wrote. I do not understand Nancy Nord when she puts the process to change the regulations back on Congress. It is her agency that wrote them and seemingly may change them.

What they are making clear is that they cannot do anything before February 10. Immediate action needs to change the deadline dates.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for posting this! I've watched some of the apparel meeting...will watch the rest later. Sounds promising so far. I'm eager to hear the outcome from this meeting.

[TheHayPatch]

I really think this is promising. At least someone is starting to get it.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting! Makes me feel better! Will watch when I have a little time later!

[Former_Member]

Marking this.

[Former_Member]

I watched all the apparel meeting, sounds like we might eventually have fabric and thread! :) Now I want to watch the one about the publishing industry. I know several writer organizations (not to mention the ALA) that are up in arms about this.

mostly I'm just bumping this up...:)

[meredithdillman]

Some good info here. I am most interested in books and will have to watch that.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for posting this! Marking, would love to get a hold of a hard copy to print out.

[TheWrapScrapPony]

I am really hopeful after watching that. It seems that they are pushing for an exemption for fabrics and component testing for everything else at the supplier level.

During the Q & A they even asked a question about smaller businesses (like us) and how we would handle the lead issue of buttons, zippers, etc. The answer from seemed to be component testing at the supplier level.

[Former_Member]

"I am pretty sure Mary Nord is on our side. Didn't she replace the original head of the CPSC? I don't believe she was involved in the actual writing of this horrible law."

Nancy Nord was not involved in the writing of this law. She fought it's passage. Congress wrote and passed this law, with a lot of input and pressure from a number of Consumer protection groups who view themselves as Progressive. Democrats, angry at Nord's objections to their bill, have been trying to get her fired for over a year. That's why Waxman keeps telling everybody to call her and lying about whether or not he can do anything about it. He could. He just doesn't want to.

[Former_Member]

Is there a list somewhere of what other meetings they are going to have? Is there a meeting that is going to be held for jewelry or on the rhinestone issue?

[Former_Member]

PastPerfect, Nord has tried to make exemptions before, only to have Congress come down on her like a tone of bricks and insist that is violating the law as they wrote it and needed to follow the law. They specifically did this on the retroactive portions of the law.
Waxman told her she could exempt books, but not if they had any metal or plastic components- apparently being ignorant that some books are stapled- and that have plastic- apparently unaware that books have plastic covers that libraries often attach permanently, that older library books will have tape, and adhesive bar codes.

Library cards intended for children 12 and under will not be exempt.

Nord didn't write the law. She got dealt a badly written one, and she's been telling Congress that since before they enacted it.

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

dara43 - I signed up for the CPSIA email list on their website, and they sent me an email telling me the meeting was available on video. I think you'll get press releases via this as well:

https://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsialist.aspx