Psychotomy

So, the big post about cpsia? Yeah, I posted that without “finishing” it, but now I can’t remember what else I wanted to add offhand :o

I sent the form letter from Handmade Toy Alliance to all three critters, although I have my doubts that it will do anything because it’s a reactionary legislation and if they change it or anyone gets seen voting “against” it, they’re gonna get railed …

Oh, I did get a form-response from one of the critters though:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the chief agency responsible for protecting the public from consumer products that present unreasonable risks of serious injury or death. The failure of the Commission to properly inspect toys and other products entering our country has understandably frightened many parents and other consumers. These incidents, which have resulted in children and others being exposed to lead paint and other dangerous materials, are the consequence of the CPSC operating without sufficient resources or authority to inspect and regulate consumer products.

For these reasons I voted in favor of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which requires children’s products to undergo independent third-party testing and expands civil and criminal penalties for children’s products that contain lead. It also provides additional resources to the CPSC in order to expedite recalls and enhance its regulatory authority. This legislation was signed into law on August 14, 2008. However, as the rulemaking process to implement this new law goes forward at CPSC, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for letting me know your thoughts on this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me further about this or any other matter.

I’m not quite sure he got the part where I am, basically, AGAINST it :o The message sounds like he might realize that I’m not cheering for the legislation, though, so maybe there’s hope. OTOH, if the problem is that the CPSC didn’t have the resources it needed, how does increasing the safety requirements and making people pay a third party resolve that? I mean, now it’s just offloading the responsibility. How about actually increasing the resources? :o

Posted in: general by attriel / Tags: CPSIA