It's Not Just Toys: The CPSIA affects all Childrens' Products

June 15, 2009 - PRLog -- National media continues to report on the disasterous affects of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) on small-batch toymakers.  A June 12, 2009 report by CNNMoney highlighted the legal challenges faced by Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) members Amy and Joe Sharp, owners of Little Aloutte toys.  However, this report and the vast majority of other reporting on the impacts of the CPSIA failed to address the full scope of the CPSIA's impact, which affects all children's products, not just toys.

“The general public, the media, and even some in Congress don't seem to realize the scope of the CPSIA,” said Jolie Fay, owner of the children's clothing company Skipping Hippos in Oregon.  “Even some businesses are just now starting to figure out that this law applies to them, too, even though they don't make toys.”

When the CPSIA was drafted in response to the 2007 safety crisis in the toy industry, its scope was made far wider than just toys. Clothing, bicycles, pens and pencils, classroom supplies, books, and cloth diapers are all subject to third party testing and certification requirement of the CPSIA.

While many of these diverse industries benefit from trade organizations representing their interests, there are few organizations concerned exclusively with the unique difficulties faced by small batch manufacturers and crafters.  For this reason, the Handmade Toy Alliance represents the interests of all small batch manufacturers, whether they make clothes or costumes, homeshool supplies or adaptive products for children with special needs.

“Despite the word 'toy' in our name, our mission at this point is far broader,” said HTA Vice President Dan Marshall of Peapods Natural Toys and Baby Care in Minnesota.  “Our understanding of the scope of the issue has grown considerably since we first named ourselves and our mission now is to protect and advocate for all kinds of hand crafted children's goods.”

“We've really begun to reach out to as many other small manufacturers as we can, because few trade organizations were advocating for handmade goods,” said HTA President Cecilia Leibovitz of Craftsbury Kids in Vermont.  “Somebody needs to stand up for crafters who make their products by the dozens instead of the tens of thousands—whether they're making hair bows, toy boats, or baby blankets.”

The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 368 retailers, 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 368 retailers, 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.