However, due to the rash of recalls in both baby toys and other baby items, particularly those that contained lead paint, Congress passed HR4040 - The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act - back in August.
With the passing of this bill, they worked to ensure the safety of our children, which is phenomenal and absolutely necessary. You cannot put a price tag on the peace of mind parents will now have when purchasing baby toys and baby clothes.
But there is another side to the story. When HR4040 was written and passed, CPSIA forgot to exclude small, independent artists; such as those that sell their goods on Etsy. As a result, they inadvertently put a huge strain on baby clothes creators. It also forgot to exclude baby clothes consignment shops and thrift stores.
HR4040 calls for the testing of handmade items by third party labs - the cost of some of these tests can run up to $4000 per item; depending on the designer, this could add up to more money going out than coming in. The end result could mean many small business that produce handmade baby toys and clothes will be forced out of business.
In my eyes, that's a real shame. But HR4040 can still be amended to exclude this small class of folks that produce these items across the US, Canada, and Europe.
So, what can be done? You can read up on this important issue at the Handmade Toy Alliance website. You can also choose to sign either of the following petitions:
If this bill is not changed, handmade baby toys and clothes will soon be illegal in the US. That means that any item you find on Etsy will be illegal to purchase or sell. Handmade wooden toys created in someone's basement studio will be considered illegal.
When you think about it that way, you realize you're not the only one that will loose out.
