Latest U.S. ban -- NOT a joke

[Draco]

The following was forwarded to me by my wife. That's her prefacing the main message from my sister. Please read this, and Samarra's following post from the NKT.

I know some of you don't like getting forwards but I felt this was important enough to send out to everyone on my address list. Even if it wouldn't effect you directly, I'm sure that it might effect someone you know. I can't believe that our government would let something like this get through but obviously they have. We have researched it and it is true. There is a link to go to where you can sign a petition to help stop this law before it goes into effect. I hope you will all take the time to do that.
This was sent to me by my sister-in-law who is now home-schooling her children. This is a woman who used to buy only the best name brand clothing for her children and who now shops in the Thrift Stores! She has a Master's degree and many years of teaching but decided that she wanted to stay at home and teach her own children thus causing a big drop in the family income. Even when I was a teacher when my children were growing up, I shopped in Thrift Stores!! This law will put a world of hurt on a tremendous amount of people in this country. Please help put a stop to it!
Besides the links provided below you can go to Google and put in "children's books banned" and go to the Mommy Life link. That will get you to the petition.
Sharon


This email came from a friend--scroll down to where it says The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned. After you read it, she also sent a link to a very easy way to contact our congressmen to express your concern:
Click on this URL to take action now
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/ut...&i=90820929&c=

If your email program does not recognize the URL as a link,
copy the entire URL and paste it into your Web browser.

Tami
www.journeytoian.wordpress.com


-- Children's Books Banned

The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned

Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,
almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of
all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and
under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior
to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in
production are required to include a "lead-free" certification
and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to the homeschooling family?

Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be
cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply
with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be
destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!
Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to
close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the
ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process
anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.

No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give
away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how
the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling
doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or
giving them away).. The key word, however, is "distribution" --
libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has
since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included
in "children's toys".)

Just how serious is this new law?

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply.
No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to
compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manu-
facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause
to be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-print
books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.

I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books
from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after
February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is
a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a
reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly
violating Federal law.)

So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that
sells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business?
Or your EBay business selling children's items?

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at
888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,
2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-
tion, just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in
each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://change.org/ideas/view/save_ha...from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.
http://ipetitions.com/petition/econo...SIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write
about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and
encourage them to do the same.

---

For the complete story, read the following links:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index
page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and
other rulings

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legi...html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory require-
ments -- The use of forward effective dates appears to force current
inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be
included in the testing of lead based products

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180
days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application
of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date
can be found on our web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's books
http://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html

There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pedtrician
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/chil...in-baby-books/
__________________
Here's what Samarra added:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
There has been a change on this law. This required testing will be for new toys and clothing only.
CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children’s Product Safety Laws Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children’s Products, Thrift and Consignment Stores

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children’s products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more than 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

Under the new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

When the CPSIA was signed into law on August 14, 2008, it became unlawful to sell recalled products. All resellers should check the CPSC Web site (www.cpsc.gov) for information on recalled products before taking into inventory or selling a product. The selling of recalled products also could carry civil and/or criminal penalties.

While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children’s products, particularly cribs and play yards; children’s products that may contain lead, such as children’s jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children.

The agency has underway a number of rulemaking proposals intended to provide guidance on the new lead limit requirements. Please visit the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for more information.

One more, from Aranel:

As a maker of children's toys and someone who makes children's clothing from time to time, plus as someone who was planning to go in this direction exclusively for part of my business this year...

I am so screwed.

I've been watching this for months now. I don't see how this can be corrected or even helped without them just calling the whole thing off. Natural products have been exempted. Great, so now I can sew children's clothing made of pure silk, cotton, and wool. Wonderful. I can't DYE the fabrics, or buy polyester, so fabric like poly fleece is out.

And they wonder why the unemployment rate keeps going up. By the way, they get to tell you what is considered something to be used by a 12 year old. You can't even say that it's not intended for children. I can't even make DOLL CLOTHES, for pete's sake.


We need to get this law repealed or amended. Please sign the petition.

[Cheryl]

1. We don't discuss political stuff on this site. There are thousands of other places to do so on the web.
2. Snopes has a post shooting down the idea that children's books will be banned and thrift stores will go out of business.
3. The clarification from the CPSC, mentioned by you above, also makes it clear that the new regulations only apply to new toys which are likely to contain lead. This is not books.