A family member who runs an Etsy store selling one of a kind items is considering closing her doors because of a law passed in August and taking effect in February. Here is the full text of the law, the sixth item on the list.
This law affects people we know here at AW.
All goods sold for use by children, or which could be used by children, must be tested for lead if the seller ships or sells in a different state than the one where the goods are made. Each item must meet certain standards for lead levels under uses by children which include mouthing, swallowing, and breaking of the toy.
This means that the baby blanket someone quilts or crochets, the hand-made stuffed animal, the sock puppet, doll clothes, Halloween costumes, the wooden truck or sled, even small earrings which could be worn by a child must be tested for lead. Lead testing costs about $150 per item.
While manufacturers of the raw materials from which children’s goods are made are bound by the same laws, the manufacturers and sellers of cloth, thread, stuffing, buttons, wood, paint, beads, and wire do not have to test them for lead, because these items are not yet intended for children.
Nobody’s saying lead testing isn’t necessary. We agree that children should never be exposed to lead at any level considered dangerous or marginal. Clearly this law is intended to stop cold the unsafe toys entering the US from China earlier this year.
But this law as written will make most Etsy stores’ and hand-crafters’ websites’ normal business operation illegal. Renaissance fairs, art fairs, craft and street festivals would all have many goods in open violation of the law--if the sellers dared accept the risk of the massive fines in excess of probable lifetime earnings.
Some sellers of toys are seeking ways around the law, modifying their goods in ways which make them inappropriate for children--but they don't like it.
If you craft for babies or kids, or know some dork who does go here to get a form protest letter and links to your senators and congressional reps.
This law needs to be modified by February.
Maryn
This law affects people we know here at AW.
All goods sold for use by children, or which could be used by children, must be tested for lead if the seller ships or sells in a different state than the one where the goods are made. Each item must meet certain standards for lead levels under uses by children which include mouthing, swallowing, and breaking of the toy.
This means that the baby blanket someone quilts or crochets, the hand-made stuffed animal, the sock puppet, doll clothes, Halloween costumes, the wooden truck or sled, even small earrings which could be worn by a child must be tested for lead. Lead testing costs about $150 per item.
While manufacturers of the raw materials from which children’s goods are made are bound by the same laws, the manufacturers and sellers of cloth, thread, stuffing, buttons, wood, paint, beads, and wire do not have to test them for lead, because these items are not yet intended for children.
Nobody’s saying lead testing isn’t necessary. We agree that children should never be exposed to lead at any level considered dangerous or marginal. Clearly this law is intended to stop cold the unsafe toys entering the US from China earlier this year.
But this law as written will make most Etsy stores’ and hand-crafters’ websites’ normal business operation illegal. Renaissance fairs, art fairs, craft and street festivals would all have many goods in open violation of the law--if the sellers dared accept the risk of the massive fines in excess of probable lifetime earnings.
Some sellers of toys are seeking ways around the law, modifying their goods in ways which make them inappropriate for children--but they don't like it.
If you craft for babies or kids, or know some dork who does go here to get a form protest letter and links to your senators and congressional reps.
This law needs to be modified by February.
Maryn
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