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The Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) applauds the House Committee on Small Business’ May 14th hearing regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) as a vital first step to open essential discussion regarding the many unintended consequences of the act on companies throughout the country. Although not the committee of jurisdiction, the House Small Business Committee has obvious discretionary oversight and obligation to the increasingly large number of companies affected by the act.
HTA member, Suzi Lang, of Starbright Baby (PA) testified at the request of the committee on the various ways her company has been directly affected by the CPSIA. “A few of the major problems that this law presents to my business are unit testing, the tracking and labeling requirement, and the fallacy of assuming everything is toxic until proven safe,” Lang shared with the committee. She goes on to say “I want safe toys in the hands of my little boy just as much as any parent would. I don’t think that the CPSIA as-written will help make that happen.”
While the confirmation of 2 new commissioners to the CPSC is imminent, more hearings need to be held to thoroughly discuss the wide spread unintended consequences of the CPSIA. During the hearing, Commissioner Nord was asked directly if she was of the opinion that the issues small businesses are facing with implementation of the CPSIA could be remedied through the regulatory process. Her answer was a resounding no. “Increasing the resources, funding and staffing at the CPSC is a necessary, fundamental step, but the issue still remains that without a technical amendment to the CPSIA, the CPSC is unable to perform necessary risk analysis of products on the market,” Jill Chuckas of Crafty Baby (CT) states. “Without looking at a risk based reform to the CPSIA, the safe products our member businesses create continue to be at risk of extinction due to an inability to prove their safety.”
The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 335 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, co-owner
Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care (St. Paul, MN)
The Handmade Toy Alliance
Tel. 651-695-5559
dan@peapods.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
Jill Chuckas, Owner, Designer
Crafty Baby (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
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
