Awesome news, everyone. Well, at least I think this is a step in the right direction.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a one year stay of enforcement that will postpone the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act crackdown.
I’m gearing up to get my little darlings ready for bed, so I can’t blog in-depth about this right now. So here’s the scoop straight from the commission:
“Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers large and small of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.
The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.
The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.”
The stay is great news, but there’s still plenty of work to be done to revise this law to ensure all makers of safe goods for children can afford to stay in business.
While this issue is far from settled, today’s announcement is a promising step in the right direction.
Update: Check out Walter Olson’s Post over at Overlawyered. He helps explain what today’s action means.
Also, I contacted a spokesman for the the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and asked about testing requirements as of Feb. 10. He replied that “there is still a testing and certification requirement for lead paint, small parts on toys, and children’s metal jewelry (and other products which may not impact crafters).”
I will pursue more details.
