What is the CPSIA and how does it affect us?

The CPSIA is an acronym for the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act passed by Congress August 14th, 2008 and first came into effect in February of 2009. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for enforcement of the act.

Summary of the CPSIA

President Bush signed the CPSIA on August 14th, 2008. It requires the testing, certification and labeling of all products for children 12 years and younger including for lead and phthalates. All children's products are affected - and each manufactured batch must be separately tested and certified. The law is retroactive, meaning everything produced before the law must comply (by good faith testing) by February 10th 2009.

What's wrong with the CPSIA

Even though the European Union limits for lead and phthalates are LOWER than those outlined in the CPSIA, the European testing for these limits is not accepted by the CPSC. This forces the European manufacturers to perform a second set of testing on the same products which increases the cost.
Testing must be performed on the final product from each manufactured batch and not on the components used to create the item. When the batch size is small, as is the case for many European toys we carry, the extra expense becomes unmanageable and unaffordable.
All products require labeling so that each component and its surface coating can be traced should a recall become necessary. In itself, this is not a bad intent. The problem again is for manufacturers with small batch sizes where toys are assembled from many components produced earlier. Compliance is easy for mass produced toys from countries such as China (where this whole issue started!) However, there is no provision for small batch manufacturers.
The CPSIA caters to large corporations that mass produce childrens products in foreign countries while making operations for small businesses in the USA and Europe significantly more expensive. This threatens the availability of fine European toys, natural toys and other desirable childrens products in the USA.

How the CPSIA affects us (and you)

The CPSIA forces us to perform testing on those products produced before February 10th, 2009 or to dispose of them as hazardous. We have taken steps to ensure that our inventory is safe and meets the requirements of the CPSIA and the rulings and stays of the CPSC. In some cases, fine European manufacturers that have supplied us with toys in the past can no longer export to the USA at a reasonable cost. This limits you choice as a consumer.

What can be done?

We (euroSource LLC and euroToyShop.com) have become members of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The alliance is working to amend the original legislation while preserving the intent for safe products for our children and preserving the small businesses that manufacture and retail them.

Please visit the web site for Handmade Toy Alliance (off-site link) for more information, to join the cause, or to donate money for their efforts. They are not a pretend group sponsored by big companies trying to appear grassroots. They are an alliance of toy stores, toymakers and children's product manufacturers from across the country who want to preserve unique handmade toys, clothes, and all manner of children's goods in the USA

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