CPSIA Myths
Posted by Valerie on March 31, 2009
1. This legislation has been put on hold for one year.
Not true. Certain manufacturers have a one year stay on certain testing. There is not a broad one-year exemption. The stay on testing does not affect schools, libraries, retailers or resellers in any direct way. (Some libraries think they have a year off, but this is not what a “stay on certain manufacturer testing” means; they are not manufacturers.)
2. The CPSC exempted resellers.
Not true. We resellers do not have a legislative requirement to test our products, but we resellers must comply with every CPSIA standard for every product we sell. Now. At this time, we resellers can choose between testing products and having no way of knowing when we are breaking the law.
3. Old books can be sold as “collectibles for adults”–and that takes care of the book issue.
It’s true that old children’s books can be marketed as collectibles for adults, but this does not help libraries, schools, or bookstores that are serving the educational needs of American children. Children benefit from twentieth cenury books every day in this country, and every product must be marketed effectively in order to be sold successfully. Restaurants market to hungry people; automakers market to drivers; and booksellers traditionally market our books to and for readers.
It’s important to understand that most 20th century children’s books are out-of-print and the few that are in-print are generally not available in hardcover.
4. This might be hard for people–but in the long run it will be healthier for kids.
We have no evidence that this legislation, burdensome and destructive as it is, will prevent a single death or disability. I’ve searched records at the CPSC, CDC, National Institutes of Health, and National Library of Medicine, and I can find not record of any child ever lead poisoned by a book, an article of clothing or a regular children’s toy. (Lead jewelry and lead paint in children’s furniture have very rarely caused problems, but rare events do not call for broad, sweeping, punitive legislative solutions.)
Lead is dangerous in an inappropriate amount in an inappropriate place; lead is quite safe in an appropriate amount and an appropriate place. While CPSIA doesn’t improve safety, its impact is more likely to be negative. Now, low-income children will have greater difficulty getting protection from the cold, bicycle manufacturers are being pressed to get minimally tested (but lead-free) parts to market, parents are tempted to buy oversized ATVs, minibikes, and snowmobiles because the youth models are all illegal across the board. Also, the CPSC has revealed that they are so busy chasing CPSIA non-hazards that they cannot effectively target their resources toward genuine risk to real children.
5. Congress is fixing this–or surely will soon.
At this point, Congress is adamantly refusing to take any action. At least 10 bills are being ignored in committee. The #1 place to put pressure is on Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce. He needs to hear from America; he is the major obstacle to getting this horrible legislation amended.
