Regulators rethink rules on testing children's clothing and toys for lead

LA Times ^ | Jan. 7, 09 | Alana Semuels

[jabchae]

The Consumer Product Safety Commission gives a preliminary OK to exempt some items from testing after complaints of hardship to thrift stores and sellers of handmade toys.

By Alana Semuels January 7, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has given preliminary approval to changes in new lead-testing rules after complaints that the measures could have forced thrift stores and sellers of handmade toys to dispose of merchandise or even go out of business.

[o_zarkman44]

Wanna solve the lead problem??? Quit buying crap from CHINA!!

Lead in American made consumer products hasn’t been a problem for 30 years.

[theFIRMbss]

As toxic levels
of lead accumulate in
tissues of kids' brains,

I wonder if that
will make microwaves from phones
fry their brains faster?

[JimSEA]

hardship to thrift stores and sellers of handmade toys.

The main reason for congressional support for many regulatory procedures is to eliminate businesses such as this. The marketplace in America is very unfriendly to small business start ups. You have to either purchase your inventory through the major manufacturers or have a bunch of money up front. Don't get me started on building and health inspections and regulations.

[Question Liberal Authority]

* Clothing, toys and other goods made of natural materials such as cotton and wood

Good news for those people stockpiling toys made out of cotton. Bad news for anyone who happens to have any of that new-fangled plastic stuff.

[theFIRMbss]

>Wanna solve the lead problem??? Quit buying crap from CHINA!! Lead in American made consumer products hasn’t been a problem for 30 years

So, businesses can't
change the labor laws that make
US businesses

uncompetitive
with overseas companies.
But they can change laws

to let them poison
children here in the US.
Is this Bush's fault???

[The Great RJ]

Just how many cases of lead or pthalate toxicity in children have resulted from exposure to used clothing? My bet is that there has never been a documented case. This is just another example of the nanny state protecting us from problems that do not actually exist.

[chris_bdba]

I’m just wondering how many of these Congress critters hve invested n the labs that are required for testing?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yo!

[Gabz]

Follow-up Ping on used clothing issues.........

[fatima]

:) That’s what I was thinking also.

[BlessingsofLiberty]

Here’s another example of a really good idea going really sour thanks to the Feds.

Thrift shops sell junk, cast offs, collectibles and...well you get the picture. There are a lot of collectible toys and other things sold at thrift shops that would never past current safety requirements by today’s standards. Most intelligent people know that and they aren’t buying this stuff because it is safe, or generally in an unused condition.

Small toy manufacturers in the USA shouldn’t be using any kind of paint that contains lead. Where the heck did they get said paint and why would they expose themselves or other employees to such risks (especially, when you have OSHA standing over you looking for your next fine).

As for small, home based operations, they are buying their paint and supplies from the same place everyone else is and the probability of them buying lead based paint from an USA manufacturer is pretty slim. The Chinese components are another issue.

I can’t address clothing or material having lead paint in it, that is beyond my comprehension. Unless it is a dye issue or synthetic material...I don’t get it.

Bottom line, the Feds need to get real. Explain this new law affects products made and sold after the Feb. date and that all other secondary market garbage will not be tested or warranted safe. They had no problem letting the Chinese garbage flow freely through the Christmas market to kids. So why all the hoopla now. Absolutely no commonsense...as usual.

[grellis]

After the thread the other day, I called the three biggest thrift shops in my town—Salvation Army, Goodwill, and SVDP. All of them stated that they were still accepting children’s clothing and toys. None of them had any idea that these new regs even existed. Either that or they were bluffing, but for what reason? They seemed genuinely puzzled.

[Gabz]

Good for them!

[DYngbld]

We called our local consignment shop that buy from, and she just found out about it last week. She is closing her doors 100% of her store is children's cloths. Another Homeschool family out of business do to stupidity. I suspect there will be tens of thousands of small family business shutting down, leaving no income in to the family.

"Hi I am the government and I am here to help you"

[netmilsmom]

Personally, I plan to be at the New St. Vincent store near us the day before.

I figure I’ll get some great bargans.

[Disambiguator]

As toxic levels of lead accumulate in tissues of kids' brains, I wonder if that will make microwaves from phones fry their brains faster?

Nope, the lead is an insulator against RF and other forms of radiation. It would be beneficial in this case.

/s

[MamaTexan]

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable.

Good grief, kids are exposed to more phthalates in a public school cafeteria than anything that would be on a toy or in clothing! What do they think is in those polyvinyl chloride gloves the cafeteria workers wear... fairy dust?

Tell the dipsticks to talk to the EPA before they destroy the ability of Americans to make a living!