We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, Congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust.
With this act in effect starting February 10 2010 so many people we love will be impacted: Moms who sew beautiful handmade Waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle—even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.
Yikes. Check their list of how to get involved - most things would only take a minute or two and could make a huge difference.
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