Heather Idoni of the Homeschooler’s Notebook and BelovedBooks.com has exposed the folly of the CPSIA in a brilliant and humorous way—she Seussified it!

Heather says: 

Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote children’s stories that were also often social commentary. Here is a great activity for creative students who love the style of Dr. Seuss. Pick a current event or controversy in the news today (ie: illegal aliens, health care, etc.) and write an imaginary story in classic Seuss style!

I have chosen to write a story myself that demonstrates my strong feelings about a law I do not agree with — the CPSIA. You can read more about that law at the following links:

Children’s Books to Be Banned

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

Guidance from the CPSC 

Not only will you love Heather’s Seussish spoof, you’ll be inspired to encourage your kids to write their own! 

Her story begins:

In the town of Beddubble, far out on the Moor,
there lived a small tot, who was not more than four.

Little Annabelle Ruth (her close friends would recall)
had swallowed the string off a dilly-dunk ball.

And then in the Spring of two thousand and one,
she died of the thing that the string must have done.

They were sure of this fact, though the details were thin –
“Something HAS to be done, we have GOT to begin!”

Those dilly-dunk balls that tots spin on a string
are quite dangerous toys — What a horrible thing! . . .

What fun! You can read the rest of Heather’s story here . . .  And I hope you take on the challenge to write your own social commentary—Dr. Seuss style!

Temporary Relief 

“The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA. ”

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

Stringent Testing on Hold 

Under this stay, publishers and manufacturers won’t need to test any products or components that are certain not to contain lead. This is great news for publishers who print in the U.S., since lead-based inks are banned anyway. There is no need to test or certify.

If you’re a crafter, or if you sell garments, toys or kits containing components, you’ll only need to test those components that fall into the category of “questionable”—fake jewels, buttons, certain trims, metal zipper pulls, etc. Even so, simple XRF screening for lead will suffice for now. No need for the expensive, CPSC-authorized lab testing.

As my friend Kate pointed out, we’ve all been given a bit more time “to test, to lobby, to enact change, to appeal.” This isn’t a cure-all, but it sure does give some breathing room!

For some crafters, most of the proposed amendments to the CPSIA won’t completely cover kits containing unique or one-of-a-kind items. Kate’s kits contain items like authentic ancient Roman coins. These “can’t be tested by the manufacturer . . . and each discrete unit is its own batch.”

Manufacturers also get a reprieve from ridiculous testing requirements. Take ordinary books, which don’t contain lead. At least for a year, a publisher won’t have to retest every time he prints more. And for products that aren’t quite so cut and dried, XRF testing will satisfy the need to know for the time being.

Penalties Still Apply

But we’d better know for sure, because even though CPSC put a stay on testing, “Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products . . . will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.” So even though we don’t have to test, we remain responsible and accountable. The fines and other penalties still apply.

Small manufacturers and publishers are breathing a collective sigh of relief right now. Though there’s still work ahead of us, it’s gratifying to see that all the protesting, lobbying, and outcry over the CPSIA has not fallen on deaf ears. I, for one, am thankful that we’ve been given some time to keep the momentum going as we continue pushing for re-evaluation of the CPSIA.

Update: A few more reads on the subject

Stay, CPSIA! Stay! Good CPSIA.

Children’s Books Get One-Year Stay from Anti-Lead Law

Children’s product sellers get 1-year reprieve on lead testing

Lead rule shelved; Oklahoma libraries relieved

CPSIA Stay II

A Rant against CPSIA

After all is said and done, no one seems to know anything. The issues are as muddy or muddier than they were even two weeks ago.

Who is supposed to do what?
And by when?
What counts?
What doesn’t?
All of this?
Some of that?
This is exempt?
That isn’t?
Yes it is.
No, it’s not.
Test for lead.
Test for phthalates.
February 10.
August 12.
Expert X says blue.
Expert Y says Cincinnati.
Expert Z says yesterday.
Call.
No, mail letters.
No, send emails.
Here’s a petition.
Books don’t need to be tested.
Books need to be tested.
What’s a book?
It’ll blow over.
Manufacturers don’t know.
Retailers don’t know.
Resellers don’t know.
They amended the law.
The law was changed.
It can’t be enforced.
They’re not looking for the little guy.
They’re hiring more manpower to look for the little guy.
Never heard of this law.
Doesn’t apply to me.
No need to test.
Test new products.
Test old inventory.
Test all products.
If it was manufactured before November 2008, it’s exempt.
I don’t have to comply.
Do I have to comply?
How do I comply?
I’m compliant.
I’m exempt.

I’m tired!
 

Copyright © 2009 by Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved.

.  .  .  .  .

In the middle of this crazy whirlwind, I’m so grateful I can rest in the shadow of the Almighty, the author of order and peace. Praying you can too!

Congress and/or the Consumer Product Safety Commission have to clarify—and soon—whether lending of books falls under the jurisdiction of the CPSIA.

The article quotes Emily Sheketoff of the American Library Association: “We are very busy trying to come up with a way to make it not apply to libraries,” said Sheketoff. But unless she succeeds in lobbying Capitol Hill for an exemption, she believes libraries have two choices under the CPSIA: “Either they take all the children’s books off the shelves,” she says, “or they ban children from the library.”

This begs the question: In addition to books, does the retroactive nature of the law mean that other items currently in classrooms, such as crayons, scissors—even photocopied worksheets—must be tested before they can be passed out to the children? The fuzzy language of the law is making this very difficult for anyone to clarify, and you’ll see from the article that, really, no one knows what to do.

Congress Bans Kids from Libraries?

——————

Update 1/23/09: ALA: Consumer Product Safety Commission Still Dragging Its Feet On Book Ruling

As a writer/publisher of books for children and teens, I’m deeply troubled by the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and its far-reaching and impractical implications for anyone who markets to children 12 and under. And I’m certainly not alone. 

A whole lot of blogging energy is being expended—with the number of posts growing exponentially—on the subject of the CPSIA, whose great hammer will slam down on the multi-billion dollar children’s industry in one month.

Furthermore, as the mainstream media has (finally) gotten wind of all this, some excellent articles have begun to crop up online as well. Below are some links to informative articles, blogs, and correspondence that clearly articulate the devastating potential of CPSIA on small businesses (and on our already flailing economy).

WorldNetDaily: Is Feb. 10 financial doomsday for thousands?

The Homeschooler’s Notebook: The Sale of Children’s Books to Be Banned (includes links and calls to action)

Book Burning and CPSIA

Talking Points from Rick Woldenberg, Chairman, of Learning Resources, who has been championing this cause for some time now

Wall Street Journal: Vendors Urge Relaxed Lead-Safety Rule

Association of American Publishers’ letter to CPSC (AAP is fighting for an exemption for books and other paper products)

TheSmartMama.com updates her blog almost daily with the most current CPSIA news

 .  .  .  .  .

Feel free to comment and leave links to other helpful, informative articles and blogs.