Help stop the MADNESS!

I am writing to you today about recently-passed federal legislation, the CPSIA (Consumer Protection Safety Information Act), that goes into effect on February 10, 2009. I am going to attempt to summarize the issue below as concisely as I can, but I encourage you to access the additional links I have included to learn more.

In a nutshell, the CPSIA was passed to protect children from unsafe toys after the widely publicized lead content recalls of 2007. However, the CPSIA does not just encompass toys. It regulates ALL products for children under 12 years of age. Clothing, cloth diapers, car seats, books, bicycles, jewelry, electronic products, blankets, sheets, bibs, strollers—EVERYTHING.

The most significant issues are the standards of lead content and phthalates. The CPSC issued an opinion making the new lead standards retroactive. When the bill was signed into law no one said they intended to make it retroactive. Therefore, this legislation, while well intentioned, has unintended consequences that threaten the children's resale industry. This includes EBay, Craigslist, and even garage sales! Inventory that was legal to sell on Feb. 9th will be defined as “banned hazardous substances” overnight – regardless of whether these products contain dangerous materials.

The CPSC issued a Press Release on January 8th that much of the media says has solved the problem for resale and thrift shops. NO... NO... No... The law remains UNALTERED! Please read it VERY CAREFULLY! This is NOT a ruling, exemption or exception to the CPSIA... it is a Press Release. It is NOT definitive! It is a step in the right direction toward open communication, however nothing has changed. We have ALWAYS fully understood that manufacturers are required to test for lead, not resellers, but how is a store to know definitively if a product violates the lead requirements unless it tests. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

What YOU Can Do:

1) Sign the petition below and encourage everyone you know to do the same. (The letter on the petition is a good one to read!)

Save Kid's Clothing Resale, Consignment & Thrift Stores from Closing!

Petition created by Make Second Hand Kid's Clothes Legal

2) Contact your Senator and Representative:

Locate your elected officials at: www.congress.org ¯ Email from the website, fax or mail. View a Sample Letter for Customers which you can adapt, personalize or use as an idea for writing your own letter. When done, copy/paste into an email or print and fax. CALL, CALL, CALL your Congressmen! Let your voice be heard!

3) Contact the sponsors of the law:

Congressman Bobby L. Rush
Phone: (202)-225-4372
Fax: (202) 226-0333

Congressman Henry Waxman
Phone: (202) 225-3976
Fax: (202) 225-4099

Learn more about this:

I recommend you start at the NARTS (National Association of Resale and Thrift) website www.narts.org (Read both the Info for Stores and the Info for Consumers). They have a long list of links to more details. The links will also be able to give you better idea of how this law will affect everything from landfills to garage sales.

There is a closed congressional staff briefing on the effects of CPSIA on resale being held THIS Friday morning. We need you to take action TODAY! Please send this message on to everyone you know!