Children's Clothing/Toy Bill Feb. 10th
Thursday, January 08, 2009
NOTE: Please read entire entry before flipping out. Apparently, there are conflicting sources of information for this. I'm just passing along the info. I have come across and updating it as needed.
First post: 1-8-08
Hello, I just thought I'd bring this to the attention of my readers. I saw online today that Congress has passed a bill that as of Feb. 10th, it will be illegal to buy or sell any used item intended for children 12 and younger. This includes toys and clothing. The only way around this bill (without it being changed) is for the store involved to have lead testing done on all the items they sell. This bill was passed in response to all the lead in children's toys recently (as a way to try to curb it). It includes clothing because lead was found in the zippers of kids clothes and in one instance a child died because they ingested a lead charm that was dangling from their tennis shoe, or so the rumor goes.
I don't think it will hurt big box retailers because they will be able to afford to have their new clothing tested. It mainly will hurt thrift stores and those who try to sell items on E-Bay or at garage sales. Supposedly, you will be fined if you break this law. The law does not include personal clothing swaps between friends or family, because really, how could they enforce this. But, sadly, it will include not being able to donate any outgrown children's clothing to thrift or consignment stores. This really stinks because I think it will hurt a lot of children whose parents can't afford to buy them clothes anywhere else. So, no more coat drives, "gently used" toy drives, etc.
I see the need to protect children from lead, but a complete ban on used items seems ridiculous. Plus, all those tainted items were "new" that had lead in them recently, not from thrift stores. The law has been kept hush-hush, but word is leaking out slowly. I just heard about it today. Here and here are articles you can read if you are interested. Please pass the word along. Even if you don't know anyone who shops at thrift stores or garage sales, I'm sure everyone knows someone that donates their children's used clothes to charity or has garage sales.
2nd post: 1-9-09
UPDATE: Apparently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has "clarified" their rules. There was a press release from them yesterday after I posted that says that USED clothing and toy resellers do not have to test their items, but can still be penalized if they do sell something that is over the lead limit. I'm not sure why the above articles as well as a host of other online information says that the testing of USED clothing and toys is required, but apparently either the CPSC has changed their minds or that wasn't what they intended in the first place. Either way, here is their press release. It seems to be good news for the thrift stores and consignment shops, anyway.
First post: 1-8-08
Hello, I just thought I'd bring this to the attention of my readers. I saw online today that Congress has passed a bill that as of Feb. 10th, it will be illegal to buy or sell any used item intended for children 12 and younger. This includes toys and clothing. The only way around this bill (without it being changed) is for the store involved to have lead testing done on all the items they sell. This bill was passed in response to all the lead in children's toys recently (as a way to try to curb it). It includes clothing because lead was found in the zippers of kids clothes and in one instance a child died because they ingested a lead charm that was dangling from their tennis shoe, or so the rumor goes.
I don't think it will hurt big box retailers because they will be able to afford to have their new clothing tested. It mainly will hurt thrift stores and those who try to sell items on E-Bay or at garage sales. Supposedly, you will be fined if you break this law. The law does not include personal clothing swaps between friends or family, because really, how could they enforce this. But, sadly, it will include not being able to donate any outgrown children's clothing to thrift or consignment stores. This really stinks because I think it will hurt a lot of children whose parents can't afford to buy them clothes anywhere else. So, no more coat drives, "gently used" toy drives, etc.
I see the need to protect children from lead, but a complete ban on used items seems ridiculous. Plus, all those tainted items were "new" that had lead in them recently, not from thrift stores. The law has been kept hush-hush, but word is leaking out slowly. I just heard about it today. Here and here are articles you can read if you are interested. Please pass the word along. Even if you don't know anyone who shops at thrift stores or garage sales, I'm sure everyone knows someone that donates their children's used clothes to charity or has garage sales.
2nd post: 1-9-09
UPDATE: Apparently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has "clarified" their rules. There was a press release from them yesterday after I posted that says that USED clothing and toy resellers do not have to test their items, but can still be penalized if they do sell something that is over the lead limit. I'm not sure why the above articles as well as a host of other online information says that the testing of USED clothing and toys is required, but apparently either the CPSC has changed their minds or that wasn't what they intended in the first place. Either way, here is their press release. It seems to be good news for the thrift stores and consignment shops, anyway.
