Farmgirl In My Heart

I cannot believe that this law may actually go into affect. Everyone one of us needs to be alert and taking action against this. As a homeschool mom who buys and sells used curriculum I think it is absurd. Please join in and pass this along.

The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned

Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,

almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of

all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and

under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior

to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in

production are required to include a "lead-free" certification

and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to the homeschooling family?

Well, or one, curriculum fairs across the country will be

cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply

with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be

destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!

Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to

close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the

ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process

anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.

No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give

away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how

the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling

doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or

giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" --

libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has

since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included

in "children's toys".)

Just how serious is this new law?

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply.

No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to

compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manu-

facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause

to be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-print

books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.

I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books

from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after

February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is

a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a

reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly

violating Federal law.)

So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that

sells children’s books? Or that homeschool curriculum business?

Or your EBay business selling children's items?

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at

888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,

2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-

tion, just enter your zip code.

http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in

each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.

http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.

http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write

about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and

encourage them to do the same.

This is a recent update to the law.

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2009 Release #09-086

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children’s Product Safety Laws Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children’s Products, Thrift and Consignment Stores

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children’s products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more than 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

Under the new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. 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.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

When the CPSIA was signed into law on August 14, 2008, it became unlawful to sell recalled products. All resellers should check the CPSC Web site (www.cpsc.gov) for information on recalled products before taking into inventory or selling a product. The selling of recalled products also could carry civil and/or criminal penalties.

While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children’s products, particularly cribs and play yards; children’s products that may contain lead, such as children’s jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children.

The agency has underway a number of rulemaking proposals intended to provide guidance on the new lead limit requirements. Please visit the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for more information.

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Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.