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-The Steiner Storehouse Staff
(Cinny, Seth, and Rene)
Hi Cinny:
If nothing changes, the C.P.S.I.A. regulations will affect our toys. I have joined the growing Handmade Toy Alliance, (an alliance of small toy manufacturers and retail stores) (Your store should join also) formed during the forth quarter of last year, and we are building a growing coalition to encourage the C.P.S.C. to make exemptions for small manufacturers and all of the hand crafting mom and pop operations who make items for children. If the C.P.S.C. in unable to make exemptions, we are pressuring members of Congress to rewrite the law, the onerous and expensive provisions of which, if enforced, will likely put quite a lot of people, including us, out of business.
I have spent many, many hours recently, reading everything I can find written about the C.P.S.I.A. and its' provisions, and how we can meet them, and stay in business. This new C.P.S.I.A. law of 2008 was meant for the large toy companies who mainly have their products manufactured in China, but when the legislation was written, no thought was given to its'
unintended consequences for the small manufacturer and hand crafter.
I and other small manufacturers are contacting our Senators and Congressmen about the unintended and expensive and onerous consequences of the new law, and we do hope that changes can soon be made. Your store might want to do the same. Every complaint helps.
At this time, we are continuing to make the toys we have been making, but have not done any of the expensive 3rd party testing to fulfill the requirements of the law. We are in a wait and see mode, as the Feb. 10th date approaches, and the pressure builds on our elected representatives to make some necessary changes or exemptions for the small manufacturer.
I am writing all of our Congressmen and Senators outlining the problems with the law, and suggesting changes. I don't think they had a clue about how many people, who are just trying to make a living, or supplement their income, the new law would put out of work.
This is all I have at this time. If nothing changes in the near future, we will likely pick just three or four items of ours to be tested and certified, and then continue to sell them if we can.
If you can put into words and in letters to your representatives, how the recent C.P.S.I.A. law is affecting your small suppliers, and your store, it would certainly help. Mike Spikes American Toy LLC