"The Handmade Toy Alliance calls to Chairman Moore for action”

May 29, 2009 - PRLog -- After an announcement this past Wednesday that Nancy Nord will step down as acting Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) effective June 1st, the Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) calls to Commissioner Moore to address the unintended consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).   Earlier this month, President Obama nominated Inez Moore Tenenbaum for the position of Chairman and Robert S. Adler for an additional commissioner post at the CPSC. Along with a 71% increase in funding from fiscal year 2007, there is hope that the CPSC will be able to remedy the issues that befall the HTA membership.

“We have heard time and time again from the leadership in Congress that Commissioner Moore has assured them that new leadership at the CPSC is all that is needed to remedy the unintended consequences of the CPSIA.”  Jill Chuckas from Crafty Baby (CT) said.  Chuckas goes on to state “As now Chairman Moore, we are curious if he will take action to make good on this promise, even before the new nominees can undergo confirmation hearings and appointment by Congress.”
The HTA continues to put forth that a technical amendment including the principles of risk assessment is required to properly implement this important piece of child safety legislation.  “To Chairman Nord’s credit, she was steadfast in demonstrating that the law as written is too far reaching and that the resulting restrictions go well beyond what Congress intended.”  Dan Scott from Tree House in the Glenn (CA) discussed.  “If we set all of the politics aside, we are still left with the letter of the law, and as a nation of laws and hopefully not politicians, we need the law to be realistic.  A new Chairman will have the opportunity to live with this legislation in its present language, and hopefully see that the only appropriate legal course is amendment to empower the CPSC to do what it does best: perform risk assessments and craft mitigation guidelines.”

The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 338 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

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The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 338 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.

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