Yearly Archives: 2009

Today is the day the CPSIA goes into effect. Due to prayers and actions taken by many, there has been a stay granted on much of this law. I noted some of it on Jan. 31st.  (And there is plenty more in previous posts, if you are clueless as to what I’m talking about.) Part of the new enforcement policy, that was released on the 6th is:

5. Product Classes Whose Lead Content Is Consistently Below Lead Limits

The Commission staff has begun to identify classes of children’s products
whose lead content appears to fall consistently below the prescribed limits.
The staff is not aware of a single documented case in which a product falling
within one of the following classes contained total lead above 300 ppm:

• Ordinary children’s books1 printed after 1985
• Dyed or undyed textiles (not including leather, vinyl or PVC) and
non-metallic thread and trim used in children’s apparel and other
children’s fabric products such as baby blankets.  This class does not
include such products if: (1) they have undergone further treatment
that may impart lead (2) they are ornamented with metal, rhinestones
or other objects; or (3) they have plastic or metal fasteners with
possible lead content (such as snaps, grommets, zippers, or buttons)

Upon completion of the staff’s investigation of these product classes, the
Commission intends to issue guidance addressing them in greater detail.  In
the meantime, the Commission’s Office of Compliance shall not prosecute
any person for manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling or offering for
sale a children’s product (or part thereof) that falls within the two classes
described above on the basis that it contains more than 600 ppm lead unless
the Director of Compliance finds that (1) such person had actual knowledge
that the product contained more than 600 ppm lead; or (2) continued to
manufacture, import, distribute or sell such product after being put on notice
by the Commission staff.

IOW, children’s books printed after 1985, as well as general textiles, have consistently proven to not have lead in them. This means that many children’s general and home education resources, as well as fabric items, can continue to be produced and sold without testing.

This is great news for many home ed publishers. But it has also already affected many. Some have put forth much money to have this testing done, in order to comply before today’s deadline date. (Obviously they needed to act before this unforeseen, though welcome, change came about at the end of last week.) Others have closed out either their entire business or certain aspects of it.  Continue to pray for those this has already hit financially, and pray that God would restore what the locust has eaten.

See all new updates to this law here.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

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Some good news has come down about CPSIA. Required testing/certification (on new categories) has been postponed for 1 year. What is not clearly evident in this ruling is whether prosecution can still be based on the new rulings, or whether it is completely based on the previous laws.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

Get future posts to this blog by email:

I’m very please to hear that HSLDA is taking CPSIA more seriously and considering its affect on hs curricula and those hs-ers whose livelihood is based on it.

Here’s part of what they’ve said:

… we are concerned about the effect that this legislation and
the proposed regulations will have on small family businesses. It
appears that many of these vital businesses could be forced to close
due to the high cost of compliance with the CPSIA.

HSLDA is trying to help protect such family businesses, as well as the
homeschooling families who may purchase educational items from such a
family business.

We will be meeting with the commissioners of the Consumer Product
Safety Commission on Wednesday, February 4. It would help our efforts
if we had actual accounts from family business owners who will have to
go out of business, or make drastic cutbacks, as a result of this
legislation and the proposed regulations. …

And more on scheduled meetings with CPSC.

CPSC’s current public calendar for the week of Feb. 2 shows several trade associations have asked to meet with Commissioner Thomas H. Moore or commission staffers to discuss the impact of the law. Moore has a Feb. 4 meeting scheduled with Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, and two other officials from that association; he has another meeting that day with Goodwill Industries International Inc. President & CEO Jim Gibbons and two others from Goodwill to discuss the law’s impact on donated goods. On Feb. 5, Robert Howell of CPSC’s Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction is scheduled to meet with a lawyer and others representing the Gift and Home Trade Association to discuss the law’s impact on that association’s members.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

Get future posts to this blog by email:

I haven’t read through all of this site yet, but a friend recommended it for info for the CPSIA. Jennifer, the lady that writes here is an attorney and does testing for lead.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

Get future posts to this blog by email:

This certainly isn’t the answer to this much larger problem, but is another front on which to be vigilent.

from the American Library Association:

A public meeting was held January 22, and Cheryl Falvey, General Counsel for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), stated that a decision should be made by the first week of February regarding libraries.  She advised libraries not to take any action at this time, and we are hopeful that the Commission’s decision will exempt libraries.

Even with her assurances, we must let the CPSC know how important an issue this is to libraries.  Please call the Acting Commissioner, Nancy Nord, at (301) 504-7923. When you call this number, wait for the automated directory to give you directions to reach Nancy Nord’s office. Explain to the Commission that it is simply impossible for libraries to remove all children’s books from the shelves and/or ban children under 12 from the library and still provide the level of service that is needed.

As always, thank you for all that you do.  The only way we will be successful in ensuring that children will have access to safe books is with a strong grassroots effort.  Your comments to the CPSC need to be submitted as soon as possible, so please tell all your friends and family – we need as many people as possible to communicate that this oversight could have lasting ramifications on our children and our communities.

See also http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1573