Pepperberry Crochet

CPSIA Update--CPSIA On Hold!

My parking lot outside of my building...covered in a sheet of ice!

Apologies, I had intended to post some more updates of the crochet projects I've been working on, but I've been out flat the last couple of days, what with snow, ice, family obligations, maintaining my plants, and...well, everyone knows how it goes.

I have a number of updates on a variety of things I'll be posting later, but I wanted to put up a link to this thread in the etsy forums, which reprints some letters from the commissioner of the CPSC, basically saying that they're aware of the problem, that if small crafters have been making crafts that have not receiving safety complaints then the CPSC is *winkwink* not going to go after them, and anyway, part / component testing should be developed. This doesn't mean we shouldn't keep working for changes to the law, but it is reassuring.

It will be interesting to see if the stay of the law goes into effect...

ETA: Gee, it would have been nice if I included the link for you. It's been added.

ETA: Actually, it's officially on hold! Check it out!

A word about CPSIA-- International Day of Blogging

Do you know what CPSIA is?

It's a new set of laws that will be coming into effect on February 10, 2009. These laws are well intended--the idea is to protect babies and toddlers from lead poisoning. It mandates testing of all products intended for children under the age of twelve for lead and other potentially harmful substances.

The problem? There's no exemption for small businesses or independent artists. Artists can't just label their products as "Not for children under the age of 12" because it's up to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make that determination-- see an article at Forbes for a clear explanation.

For hundreds of crafters that make their living making plush toys or baby or child items, this is effectively going to mean the end of their businesses. Personally, I would no longer be able to attend craft fairs or sell plush toys.

Please check out the CPSIA Resources at Etsy, and join the fight to keep toys both safe and HANDMADE!

You can link to a list of participating bloggers here. If you want to join in the blog-in, you can link here, or just post about it!