Please do your part to stop this law!
If you are a parent who has ever purchased a used book, toy, or article of clothing (think eBay, Amazon, etc.) Then you must read this! I copied it from a friend, but I have been researching this and it appears very, very true.
The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned---Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,almost Orwellian, reality.
Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale ofall children's books (books intended for children ages 12 andunder) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed priorto the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books inproduction are required to include a "lead-free" certificationand will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.
What does this mean to the homeschooling family? (What will this do to school libraries And public and private school curriculum?) Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will becancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to complywith the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to bedestroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have toclose their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in theruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or processanything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.
No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to giveaway or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, howthe libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the rulingdoesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling orgiving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" --libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA hassince made a statement that clothing, books and media are includedin "children's toys".)
Just how serious is this new law?Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply.No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior tocompliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manu-facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clauseto be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-printbooks. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.
I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living booksfrom the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book afterFebruary 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it isa felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become areality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantlyviolating Federal law.)
So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore thatsells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business?Or your EBay business selling children's items?ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:
1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspxComments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov
2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-tion, just enter your zip code.http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/
3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 ineach category will be presented to President-elect Obama.http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
4) Sign the petition.http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html
5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Writeabout this on your blog. Tell others about this issue andencourage them to do the same.---
For the complete story, read the following links:http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlConsumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Indexpage for Children's Products Containing Lead;
Lead Paint Rule andother rulingshttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries
Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory require-ments --
The use of forward effective dates appears to force currentinventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html
Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to beincluded in the testing of lead based productshttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html
Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the applicationof the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective datecan be found on our web site athttp://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf
Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's bookshttp://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html
There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pedtricianhttp://health.yahoo.com/experts/childhealth/3955/is-there-lead-in-baby-books/
The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned---Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,almost Orwellian, reality.
Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale ofall children's books (books intended for children ages 12 andunder) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed priorto the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books inproduction are required to include a "lead-free" certificationand will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.
What does this mean to the homeschooling family? (What will this do to school libraries And public and private school curriculum?) Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will becancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to complywith the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to bedestroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have toclose their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in theruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or processanything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.
No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to giveaway or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, howthe libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the rulingdoesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling orgiving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" --libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA hassince made a statement that clothing, books and media are includedin "children's toys".)
Just how serious is this new law?Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply.No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior tocompliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manu-facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clauseto be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-printbooks. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.
I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living booksfrom the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book afterFebruary 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it isa felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become areality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantlyviolating Federal law.)
So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore thatsells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business?Or your EBay business selling children's items?ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:
1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspxComments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov
2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-tion, just enter your zip code.http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/
3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 ineach category will be presented to President-elect Obama.http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
4) Sign the petition.http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html
5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Writeabout this on your blog. Tell others about this issue andencourage them to do the same.---
For the complete story, read the following links:http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlConsumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Indexpage for Children's Products Containing Lead;
Lead Paint Rule andother rulingshttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries
Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory require-ments --
The use of forward effective dates appears to force currentinventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html
Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to beincluded in the testing of lead based productshttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html
Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the applicationof the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective datecan be found on our web site athttp://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf
Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's bookshttp://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html
There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pedtricianhttp://health.yahoo.com/experts/childhealth/3955/is-there-lead-in-baby-books/
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