Alert to new government regulation of crafters and artisans

[Guest guest]

Dear Fellow Handcrafters,

 

(Please forgive me if you see this on more than one list. I think it

is important enough to make sure everyone is aware of what is about to

happen to our businesses!)

 

I have become aware of yet another way the government is trying to

regulate our lives and will run the small crafter/artisan right out of

business in the process. The large toy manufacturers have caused all

of us problems by sending their manufacturing contracts overseas in an

effort to save a few dollars here and there. Just another nail in the

coffin of our economy and now we are all going to have to pay the

price for their greed!

 

Louis at CraftLister.com has alerted the handcrafting community to the

following alarming information:

 

" The new children's product lead-testing requirements of HR4040, The

2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act ( CPSIA ) ( Public Law

110-314 ), will leave many individual artists and crafters unable to

comply, thereby decimating the American hand-made marketplace for yet

another product category: HAND-MADE TOYS & CHILDRENS PRODUCTS And

since children's toys are one of the few things one can make without

lasers, furnaces, forges, production robots, chip foundries, etc. this

lost product category will leave most children's product craftsmen,

primarily elderly folks, without hope.

 

While no one can deny the need for safe toys, a protective measure can

certainly be taken too far ...

 

Make no mistake, as the act stands all toys and products for children

must be certified... "

 

If you produce any type of article for children under 12 or that looks

like it could be used by someone under 12, you WILL BE subject to

mandatory testing to determine safety. Don't think this will not

apply to you. Get busy and educate yourself. Join other crafters in

getting exemptions for truly handmade in the U.S. crafts, clothing and

toys that we work hard to produce and make safe for kids.

 

The entire article can be read at the following link:

http://www.craftlister.com/groups/group_details.php?GroupID=141

 

Thanks for reading this. Please take action before we are too late to

put a stop to this atrocity!

 

Paula Devore

MySisterTwo.com