YOUR HELP IS NEEDED - NOW!

In August, congress passed a law H.R. 4040 dealing with child safety standards for ALL toys and any other items manufactured for use by children under  12 years of age.

This bill requires testing of our toy products by an independent government certified lab.  Testing also includes a test for plastics in our wood toys! 

The cost of this testing can run from $1000 to $4000 on each product.  We have 27 products that would have to be tested. And the test has to be done annually!

There is an organization that has formed called Handmade Toy Alliance.  This organization has drafted an amendment to the law that would exempt testing for manufactures of less than 5000 items per year and or items made of natural materials.

They also have a petition to submit to the CPSC (Child Products Safety Commission).

How You can Help:
Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys.  Use our sample letter or write your own.  You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here.

This issue affects many people:

    Toy stores who will have to destroy all uncertified inventory in August

Small businesses who cannot afford to buy products due to the increased  cost of the testing

Folks who make any children's products and sell at Farmer's markets and craft shows to supplement their incomes

Schools that have toys for play time

Doctor and dentist offices, hospital waiting rooms

Occupational and Physical therapists who use toys to increase motor skills

Small businesses (such as ours) that cannot afford the testing and have to go out of business

Web sites selling children's products that will have to shut down (many are run by people trying to supplement their retirement income and have spent sums of money to create their sites)