For toymakers, the world changes on Aug. 14. That’s the day a new regulation takes effect that small manufacturers say could force them out of business.
“I hear gut-wrenching stories every day, like the soldier’s wife who doesn’t think she can continue her homemade doll business or the Native American women who are worried that they’d run afoul of the law if they continue to make handcrafted authentic clothing for Native American children,” says Rosario Palmieri, vice president of regulatory policy for the National Association of Manufacturers.
Last year, in the wake of several high-profile toy recalls, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Intended to ensure that children’s products are free of lead and toxic chemicals, the law has been taking effect in phases — and each new rule that kicks in brings with it a raft of unintended consequences.
Little Alouette in Columbus, Ohio, is just two months away from a deadline that could force the two-person shop to shutter. In mid-August, a new provision takes effect that requires children’s products to carry a permanent label or mark with manufacturing details. The label is intended to ease recalls, but many toymakers are frustrated by the new requirement’s rigidity and complexity. The Sharps don’t fully understand the convoluted regulation and aren’t sure they’ll be able to absorb the costs of compliance.
Too many questions about implementation remain unaddressed by the law’s overseer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, critics say.
Photo by nematoo.