Toxic Toy Law Threatens Local Businesses
New law requires expensive testing for lead
By RACHEL BIANCO
Updated 5:45 PM PST, Tue, Jan 6, 2009
Meredith Shiflett is a new mom on a budget. She enjoys shopping for bargains at second hand stores like Baby Go Round in Mission Valley.
"My husband is in the military so we have a pretty limited budget, so it's pretty awesome 'cause even at Wal Mart clothes are like $10 more," said Shiflett.
Next month many of those bargains will be gone.
"All of this, all of these small toys, the bigger toys, the equipment, all the clothing for the children, probably a lot of the books, about two thirds of my store, " said Laura Gulij, Baby Go Round's owner.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, passed by Congress in August, goes into effect February 10. Among other things, it mandates all childrens' products, toys, clothes, books, etc. are tested for toxic lead and phthalates, chemicals used in plastic. Store owners must present a certificate proving the products were tested.
Many small business owners say they can't afford the testing and will have no choice but to get rid of much of their inventory.
"The cost of digestive testing for lead ranges from $130 to $180 per test on a shirt I am selling for $4.95," said Gulij.
The law is in response to several toy recalls in 2007. It was discovered large toy makers were selling products with dangerously high levels of lead content or chemicals that make children sick. Most of the toys were made in China.
Gulij and others are petitioning Congress to make changes to the law or to make small businesses exempt.
"I hope there's some modification, maybe it won't be retroactive, maybe it will be everything made from February 10th forward, " said Gulij.
The law also prohibits selling old baby products on line or at a yard sale, without a certificate proving the item has been determined to be lead-free.
First Published: Jan 6, 2009 2:38 PM PST
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