On February 10, 2009 anyone that sells children's products will be required to have their products tested for lead. Sounds good right? No one wants a child exposed to lead poisoning. When you think about people selling children's items you usually think of huge companies like Fisher Price or Graco or the like they mass produce items and could and should be testing them. But what about all the 'microproducers' Those people with home based businesses that make one of a kind, boutique or specialty items. Or what about second hand stores? The law exempts thrift stores from the requirement on one hand but on the other issues with fines or criminal penalites if they do sell products with lead. Stuck between a rock and a lead place.
This article in the Standard Examiner gives an overview of the issue:
http://www.standard.net/live/news/162611/
This article from McClatchey Newspapers and reprinted here: http://www.catholic.org/hf/family/story.php?id=31877&page=1 suggests even children's books may be in trouble INCLUDING books that are CURRENTLY in libraries.
Is this a case of the government being 'right on'? Or is it a case of oops we didn't think about that.
Marni, how will this affect your business?
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3 comments:
I've tried for three days to come up with a brilliant comment for this post.
I hope it hasn't hurt. LOL
Yeh, I bin wundrin thet too! (Sorry, read the redneck post first. Customers rock.)
I honestly am not entirely sure. For the most part things should be fine, but I am the most concerned about crystal products because crystal is lead-based, just the nature of the beast. I've written companies I buy things from and congressmen (love those form letters back). The companies say the crystals are fine to wear just don't eat them. But with the law, I would have to stop selling anything with crystals on it, which without checking is probably almost half of what sells. Really cool.
From what I've read about it and from what I've heard from other jewelry/clothing makers, many of those that passed it didn't even realize it included clothing. Neat. Do they read before they vote? That alone scares me.
The intention of the law was to protect us from lead products from China, but obviously many of us are getting hit by it was well. But what to do, we're just a bunch of moms that want to hang out with our kids. I've heard there is talk of revisions, but revisions or not, it goes into effect the 10th.
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