bentley (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} bentleywg) wrote,@ 2009-01-04 11:06:00 |
|
New law on children's clothing
New safety rules for children's clothes have stores in a fit, by Alana Semuels. Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2009.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-th
"The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead. 'They'll all have to go to the landfill,' said Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Assn. of Resale and Thrift Shops. ... But others say the measure was written too broadly. Among the most vocal critics to emerge in recent weeks are U.S.-based makers of handcrafted toys and handmade clothes, as well as thrift and consignment shops that sell children's clothing. ...
Clothing and thrift trade groups say the law is flawed because it went through Congress too quickly. By deeming that any product not tested for lead content by Feb. 10 be considered hazardous waste, they contend, stores will have to tell customers that clothing they were allowed to sell Feb. 9 became banned overnight. These groups say the law should be changed so that it applies to products made after Feb. 10, not sold after that date. That would take action by Congress, however, because the Consumer Product Safety Commission's general counsel has already determined that the law applies retroactively, said commission spokesman Scott Wolfson." [More] (via The Simple Dollar)
UPDATE:
Trent posted an update and clarification.
New safety rules for children's clothes have stores in a fit, by Alana Semuels. Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2009.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-th
"The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead. 'They'll all have to go to the landfill,' said Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Assn. of Resale and Thrift Shops. ... But others say the measure was written too broadly. Among the most vocal critics to emerge in recent weeks are U.S.-based makers of handcrafted toys and handmade clothes, as well as thrift and consignment shops that sell children's clothing. ...
Clothing and thrift trade groups say the law is flawed because it went through Congress too quickly. By deeming that any product not tested for lead content by Feb. 10 be considered hazardous waste, they contend, stores will have to tell customers that clothing they were allowed to sell Feb. 9 became banned overnight. These groups say the law should be changed so that it applies to products made after Feb. 10, not sold after that date. That would take action by Congress, however, because the Consumer Product Safety Commission's general counsel has already determined that the law applies retroactively, said commission spokesman Scott Wolfson." [More] (via The Simple Dollar)
UPDATE:
Trent posted an update and clarification.
