Skip to main content

They actually listened and cleared the path for small crafters to keep working without those impossible testing fees. It feels like such a weight is off all our shoulders because those wooden toy shops and little clothing makers across the country get to stay open now. I am honestly just …

March 10, 2009

Save Small Businesses from the CPSIA

Save Small Businesses from the CPSIA

🏆 Won — 24,031 supporters Verified

Final supporters

T
Theresa M.
A
Amanda W.
R
Rick M.
S
Someone
C
charlotte l.
M
Marrissa C.
S
Someone
S
Someone
E
Eric S.
M
Melissa L.
+24,021 more
Started by Anonymous 17 years, 7 months ago
Like many people, I was deeply concerned by the dangerous and poisonous toys that large Chinese toy manufacturers have been selling to our nations families. And, I was very pleased that Congress acted quickly to protect America's children by enacting the CPSIA. However, I am very concerned that the CPSIA's mandates for third party testing and labeling will have a dramatic and negative effect on small toymakers and crafters of children's products whose safety records have been exemplary. Because of the fees charged by Third Party testing companies, many manufacturers, especially makers of beautiful wooden toys and unique children's clothes from Maine to Oregon will be driven out of business. Their cottage workshops simply do not make enough money to afford the $200 to $4,000 price tag per toy that Third Party testers are charging per item. I urge the CPSC to make some very reasonable exclusions in their interpretation of the law as they continue their rulemaking process. For example, manufacturers should be able to rely on testing done by their materials suppliers instead of paying for redundant unit-based testing. I would also like to see an exemption to third party testing requirements for micro-businesses similar to the exemptions granted by the FDA for small producers under the food labeling laws. These toy makers and crafters have earned and kept the public's trust. They provide jobs for hundreds and quality playthings for thousands. Their unique businesses should be protected. Please visit www.handmadetoyalliance.org to learn more about this issue. [A copy of this petition will be sent to the CPSC.] [Note: signatories 1 through 6,494 signed a slightly different version of this petition, which is available at http://sites.google.com/site/handmadetoyalliance/document-to-share/petitiontext1.pdfattredirects=0 .]

Updates

January 8, 2009

I honestly cannot believe we hit ten thousand signatures because when I first started typing this out in my kitchen I thought maybe a dozen of my neighbors would notice. It is completely wild to see so many people who actually care about these small woodworkers and crafters who are just trying to keep their businesses alive without having to pay these massive testing fees that make no sense for them anyway. I just keep scrolling through the list of names and I am really blown away that this message traveled so far beyond my little circle.

Reached 10,000 supporters

January 5, 2009

January 3, 2009

I have been reading through all your messages about the wooden blocks and knitted sweaters you are worried about losing and it really hits home how much heart goes into these workshops. I am currently spending all my free time digging through the regulatory fine print to see where we can push for those specific exemptions for the small shops. Things feel a bit stagnant on the official side but do not let that fool you because I am still reaching out to anyone who will listen to this mess.

Reached 1,000 supporters

December 11, 2008

Reached 100 supporters

December 9, 2008

December 8, 2008

I was just looking at the count and we are creeping up toward triple digits so fast it makes my head spin but we need to blast through that milestone to really show those folks at the agency we mean business. If you could just ping one person who cares about independent shops in their neighborhood right now that might be the exact spark we need to keep this momentum moving.

7 Comments

A
Anonymous
10 years ago Featured

This new law is overkill and will ironically force many of the safest toys off the market and put people who craft tried and true safe toys out of work because they cannot afford the high third party testing fees.

V
Vinod Samuel
12 years ago Featured

Small business build our crippling economy. While the government that says they are doing everything it takes to better the economy research has shown that it is not the case. Look around, the facts are in the day to day people. I urge you to SAVE small business from CPSIA and allow us to build this failing economy

B
Brenda May
17 years ago Featured

The mass produced stuff is the real problem not the mom and pop shops making quality goods in their basements. Fix this now.

S
Sarah Preston
17 years ago Featured

My friend makes handmade wooden puzzles and she is going to have to close her shop because of these crazy testing costs. It makes no sense to punish the good guys.

M
Mike Huang
17 years ago Featured

STOP KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES! These testing fees are literally impossible for a home crafter to pay. Let them work.

J
Jason Saleh
17 years ago Featured

ridiculous regulations that only hurt the little guy while the big corporations probably have ways around it anyway.

A
Amanda Werner
9 years ago

We need these awesome toys around for our children!!!

Share Petition

Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact

Copy link or share directly

Instagram
QR Code