WilkieCraft

I was talking with my friend Deb about my fledgling business. She showed me a picture of her niece on a wooden walking toy, and suggested I get into this product line. I appreciate her advice, but cannot possibly get into children's products at this point. The reason? A piece of Federal legislation known as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

The CPSIA was written in response to the discovery in 2007 of lead paint and other safety issues with certain toys imported from China. The goal of the law -- protecting our children -- is noble, but its means favor big corporations at the expense of small business. It will drive crafters out of the market if not amended before the stay of enforcement ends in February 2011.

The issue is product testing. As the manufacturer, I would need to pay as much as $4,000 to have each product tested by an independent lab. That fee may not be a big deal if it can be amortized over a million GI Joes or Barbies, but is prohibitive to a crafter selling twenty or thirty units a year.

The Handmade Toy Alliance and other groups are backing reforms of the CPSIA to make the legislation fair, just, and appropriate to affected industries. Learn more at http/www.handmadetoyalliance.org/AllianceInfo/TheProblemsWiththeCPSIA.aspx