The Handmade Toy Alliance applauds the naming of new leadership at the CPSC

May 6, 2009 - PRLog -- The Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) applauds President Obama’s nomination of 2 new Commissioners to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Tuesday as a step in the right direction to remedy the many unintended consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).  The CPSC has been left grossly under funded and understaffed despite the increase in demands on the agency since President Bush signed into law the CPSIA of 2008.  With the installation of two new commissioners, a third appointment expected this summer, as well as a 71% increase in funding from fiscal year 2007, there is new hope that the CPSC will be able to address some of the issues that befall the HTA membership.

President Obama’s nominee for Chair of the Commission, Inez Moore Tenenbaum, has worked in the field of education as the former State Superintendent of Schools in South Carolina.  She currently serves as special counsel to the McNair Law Firm in the area of public school finance.   Robert S. Adler, nominee for an additional Commissioner of the CPSC, spent eleven years (from 1973-1984) as an attorney-advisor to two commissioners at the CPSC and was part of the President’s transition team, co-authoring the agency review report on the CPSC.  The President also intends to extend the size of the CPSC to include 5 Commissioners and additional staff in the months to come.

While restoring the overall health of the CPSC is a step in the right direction to enhance the regulatory functions of the agency, there is still much work to be done to correct the unintended consequences of the CPSIA.  “I am greatly encouraged by the President’s naming of nominees.  Congressional members have been telling us for 6 months now that new leadership at the CPSC will fix the unintended consequences of the CPSIA”  Jill Chuckas of Crafty Baby (CT) states.  “Still, though, I believe that the wording of the law itself restricts the Commissions ability to remedy all the errors of the CPSIA and the HTA will continue to lobby for a technical fix utilizing risk based assessment.”

With confirmation hearings in the near future, there is hope that the process will move swiftly as the August 14th, 2009 deadline for third party batch testing by certified laboratories and batch labeling procedures loom over the HTA membership and thousands of small manufacturers throughout the country.  “Having spoken personally with Mr. Adler, he appears to have a good understanding of the unintended consequences the CPSIA has had and will continue to have on home sewers and other small manufacturers in our membership,”  Jolie Fay from Skipping Hippos (OR) shares.  “The announcement of these nominations gives me renewed hope for change, and a much needed added burst of energy while I continue to work towards a legislative change in the CPSIA.”

The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 334 toy stores, toymakers and children's product manufacturers from across the country, who want to preserve consumer access to unique handmade toys, clothes and children's goods in the USA.  They are parents, grandparents and consumers who are passionate about their businesses as well as the safety of the children in their lives.  While in support of the spirit of the law, the unintended consequences of the CPSIA have motivated members of the HTA to work to enact change at a federal level.


Dan Marshall,
Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care (St. Paul, MN)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 651-695-5559
dan@peapods.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org   

Jill Chuckas, Crafty Baby,
Owner, Designer (Stamford, CT)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 888-788-5168
jill@craftybaby.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org   

Cecilia Leibovitz, President
Craftsbury Kids (Montpelier,VT)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 802-223-7143
ceci@craftsburykids.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
   
Rob Wilson, Vice President,
Challenge & Fun (Ashland, MA)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 888-384-6200
hta@challengeandfun.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org

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The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 334 toy stores, toymakers and children's product manufacturers from across the country, who want to preserve consumer access to unique handmade toys, clothes and children's goods in the USA. They are parents, grandparents and consumers who are passionate about their businesses as well as the safety of the children in their lives. While in support of the spirit of the law, the unintended consequences of the CPSIA have motivated members of the HTA to work to enact change at a federal level.