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artsfarm says: |
Do you sell vintage children's clothing, vintage fabrics, kids' books, toys or other things that might be used by a child 12 or under? Or, more specifically, not even used by the child, but something that a child MIGHT come into contact with?
If so, you might be out of business.
Also, do you shop at thrift stores, church bazaars, craft shows, flea markets, yard sales, antique shops, Craigslist, secondhand bookstores, go to the library, but textbooks, shop for used kids' books on Amazon.com, or anywhere because you can't afford new (or won't pay retail, or prefer used/vintage items for their ecological sensibility)?
If so, you can't because those places will cease to exist.
Are you concerned about the huge strain on our landfills, pollution, and waste in general, and because of this, buy recycled items?
Too bad, you can't anymore.
Unless one's been under a rock for the past month, we've all heard of the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Information Act), so I won't get into the 'what/how/why' of it here; there is a TON of info in the "CPSIA" forum section here, as well as lots of websites.
But, besides the tremendous nagative impact this law poses for handcrafts, employment/economy and the environment, it has a much farther reach than most people realize. Ask craft supply stores, boutiques, libraries, show promotors, your local thrift/consignment shop, any "Main Street" business and there is a very good chance they either never heard of the CPSIA, or have heard 'something' but don't know what it's about.
We also need to be aware of is who this affects us as vintage sellers. There has been what looks like a tiny bit of progress with meetings (one today actually), and adjustments to exempt *a few* natural materials, and last I heard thrift/consignment shops (which would include vintage sellers) are exempt, but not retroactively, which means that anything made after August 2008 (when the bill was passed) is exempt, which then means nothing vintage is exempt.
They also said that sellers of previously-owned items should use their common sense and judgement to determine whether their items are safe, which is a huge crock, and a trap. No one can tell if their 50-year old dress has pthalates in it, much less lead. A fellow Etsian who makes children's items recently tested her components and found that some vintage pearlized buttons she had contained lead,but others didn't so there is no way any of us can tell 'by eye'.
This leaves us open to arrest, huge fines and a felony record.
So, this thread is here to share what we know, learn what we don't and to provide information on how to get the word out. We need to contact our representatives (most of whom signed the bill into law without knowing the ramifications for millions of citizens.
Have at it. |
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Posted at 2:42 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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mysouthernlace says: |
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Wow... I have been selling vintage for years and never had a problem, someone in the Goverment has way more time on there hands then brains. |
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Posted at 2:52 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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TRUECOLORSFORYOU says: |
Thanks Arts! (hope you are doing ok...?)
Ignorance is bliss???
until you find out what you don't know |
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Posted at 2:56 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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susantique says: |
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I read an article as well as heard a report on our local news that used childrens items will not be affected by this as previously stated in the law. |
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Posted at 3:03 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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julianne says: |
All three of my children have played with vintage toys all their lives.
I'm very sad at the prospect that no child will be able to play with a real weeble.
Not to mention wearing some of the costume jewelry (like clip on earrings).
Boo. |
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Posted at 3:03 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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artsfarm says: |
This affects both makers and sellers of handcrafted items, for kids as well as those of us who sell vintage items. It also affects our sources and is contradictory to the concept of recycling and how vintage plays a large part in that. Anything that is deemed "hazardous" by this law (which is just about everything), needs to be discarded and will cause unprecedented waste and strain on the already strained landfill situation. Those antique French & German dolls from the 19th Century? Garbage, because they were intended to be used by a child, even if an adult locks them up in a display case.
Your Barbie and Schoenhut collection? Can't sell them, ever.
Here's are some links with more info, petitions and contact info to use:
Change.org: vote the "Save Small Business from the CPSIA" upawrds to get it onto a list of issues for Pres-Elect Obama to review. Today is the last day to vote!:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
A petition urging congress to revisit the law, to save secondhand children's items from the CPSIA:
http://www.rallycongress.com/make-second-hand-kids-clothes-legal-/1471/save-kid-s-clothing-resale-consignment-thrift-stores-from-closing/#comment-214614
Info, networking and advocacy for resale of children's items:
http://savekidsresale.squarespace.com/for-business-owners/
Change/gov, Obama's trasitional team's 'citizen's list' of issues for him to review:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004mSW&lsr=0#comments
CPSIA committee members and contact info:
The Hon. Henry A. Waxman
Chairman Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Hon. Joe Barton
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Hon. Bobby Rush
Chairman Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade
and Consumer Protection
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Hon. Ed Whitfield
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade
and Consumer Protection
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
***CPSIA WEBSITE***
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
A brochure made by fellow Etsians to print and mail out to reps (you can alter to suit):
http://shalomscottagehome.com/Assets/Special%20Graphics/save%20handmade_book.pdf
More websites concerning CPSIA (more to come):
http://www.endangeredwhimsy.com/
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/
http://learningresourcesinc.blogspot.com/2009/01/cpsia-emperor-has-no-clothes.html
http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions20081229
Etsy threads on the CPSIA:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=5000002
National Association for the Self-Employed site. Enter your zip code to find all of your local media outlets:
http://advocacy.nase.org/legislative_action_center.asp?czip=10950&ButQuickLink=Find+it%21 |
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Posted at 3:05 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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susantique says: |
This is an excerpt that I quoted on another thread.
"Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards." |
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Posted at 3:05 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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PoshDots says: |
artsfarm says...
I heard thrift/consignment shops (which would include vintage sellers) are exempt, but not retroactively, which means that anything made after August 2008 (when the bill was passed) is exempt, which then means nothing vintage is exempt.
So, only items made after Aug. 2008 are exempt? Where did you read this info?
I would think that a lot of vintage items probably do contain high levels of lead, but I also understand that people don't generally buy these for children to play with...unless you are my mom, lol! |
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Posted at 3:06 pm, January 15 2009 EST - Report this post
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