Consumer Product Safety Act – Crafters Get More Time
Enforcement of child product safety testing reccomendations has been delayed for a full year.
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Well apparently the squeaky wheel does get the grease… at least for now! Stringent safety testing requirements that were to come into effect as of Feb 10, 2009 have been postponed to give more time for review of the proposed changes. This delay was probably due to the uproar from small businesses and crafters who would have been paralyzed by the new legislation if it had been enforced later this week.
If you were unaware of what’s been going on with these child product safety rules, then you can read this article posted January 13, 2009:
Child Product Safety Law – New Legislation Affects Handmade Goods
Here is a recent quote from the January 30th, 2009 press release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
You can read the full CPSC press release here [expired link].
And for other reading about phthalates and polymer clay, click here:
Phthalate-Free Premo Polymer Clay – A Blessing or a Curse
This “stay of enforcement” is likely very good news for all of you that are selling handmade children’s products in the US! But I would still keep an eye on this issue because the law will most likely still come into effect in some form that affects your business, if it hasn’t already.
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Hi Cindy,
found you and your site while searching. I am working on a project. I am really stuck on how to scent my fabric animal I have made. I really wanted to add scent that is safe, non-toxic and that will last inside fabric. I just want to put some inside some small areas that have double fabric so I could embed the scent there without having to put it in the stuffing since there will be no stuffing in this fabric animal. Children will play with this also. I was going to try some essential oil scents. Can I use clay beads (really small?) and scent them and then embed inside two pieces of fabric sewn together (say like the hands or feet). If so any suggestions on how to do this? Can I buy clay beads unscented and scent myself for this activity?
Hi Pam, that is an interesting idea. It is something that could work, but you would have to test it to see how long it would last. Why don’t you make a little sample pocket and try it? You could pack it around and see if it held it sent for long enough to be worth the effort. My daughter had one of those rice bags that you can heat in the microwave that had pieces of cinnamon bark and cloves in it that still has a scent over more than 10 years. Something like that may work if the clay doesn’t. Good luck!
Hi Kristy – You can follow the link by my name to go to another comment thread where this topic has been discussed.
hello, ive been making some polymer clay charms-various sweets and small chocolates and have been putting them onto charm bracelets, however ive now been informed that these type of beads are banned! i had every intention of selling compleated bracelets-to be for adults not children, but now unsure of the law! please can you help me! xx
I don’t mind there being laws to protect the consumer, but they shouldn’t prevent the little guy from being able to provide a good product to the consumer.
The law the way it stood would take away many good quality handmade goods from the marketplace and ruin many legitimate businesses.
I’m glad they decided to reevaluate the law. The way it stood would unfairly punish many good businesses and products. Hope they come up with something reasonable that will benefit everyone.
Thanks for your comment John!
I am happy about the delay. Now, they just need to scrap the law. Its ridiculous some bad toys come in from China and instead of blocking those contractors or even incoming toys from China, they made it so everyone has to do this ridiculous testing which will put many of the smaller toy makers out of business or at the very least have them cut down their product line to just their top sellers.
I’m curious how many of the readers here sell handmade products for children. I bet those of you who do, are somewhat relived by this legislative delay. Let me know your thoughts…