The CPSIA does not just affect toys--it regulates all products for children under 12.  Clothing, school supplies, cloth diapers, car seats, boy scout patches, bicycles, sippy cups--everything.  Congress in its wisdom decided that a problem caused by irresponsible mass-market toymakers should be solved with a one-size-fits-all solution for dozens of industries totally unrelated to toys.

The Handmade Toy Alliance supports the parallel efforts of other industries to gain relief from the onerous enforcement mechanisms imposed by the CPSIA.  Although we have proposed our own ideas that would help small toymakers, we believe that the following reforms of the CPSIA would be fair, just, and appropriate to all affected industries:

• The law should be scaled back to focus on products that were an issue in the first place (namely: toys and children's jewelry).
• Enforcement should allow component versus unit testing.  Manufacturers and/or industry groups, in cooperation with the CPSC, should decide the most rational method for their situation.
• Testing frequency rules should be adjusted to allow smaller companies that deal with smaller runs the ability to stay in business.
• Random testing could be part of the legislation in place of some of the more burdensome requirements, especially for "low volume" companies.
• Companies should be allowed to keep testing certificates on file instead of re-sending them with each order.
• The law should be simplified to be understandable, while maintaining (or improving) its effectiveness.
• Batch Labeling should be required only for companies producing more than a certain quantity.

We believe these guidlines if carried out would make the CPSIA more effective, more fair, and less onerous for a wide variety of industries.

Other trade groups working on CPSIA reform whose efforts we support include:

The Real Diaper Industry Association, a trade group of cloth diaper manufacturers.

The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, representing thrift stores who are affected by the CPSIA

Fashion Incubator, the focal point of reform efforts in the children's garment industry.

The American Library Association and book publishers are documenting significant problems in the CPSIA

Visit CPSIA-Central, which serves as a gathering point for this broader reform movement.