It's expensive, but necessary. I very much LOVE my small business, working with a fair trade cooperative, communication with customers, and my nice cozy warm slippers, so YES YES YES, the testing process has begun.
I must also say that as a mom, I am very happy that this sort of testing is required. However, as a small business owner and someone who was looking forward to opening my own etsy account, I fear that all this certification must be simplified and made less expensive somehow to allow the little businesses to continue to exist, please. I simply don't want to think about the loss of so many lovely handmade (and many mom-owned and operated) businesses.
If you are unfamiliar with the new rules, here's my overly simplistic summary: Almost all children's products
manufactured after November 12, 2008, regardless of whether they are made in the USA or elsewhere, need to be tested for harmful substances, like lead, as well as choking hazards and other dangers. Proof of testing must be provided to buyers in a variety of ways, e.g., product labels, hang tags, literature, depending on the type of product, how it is packaged and whether it is a retail or wholesale purchase.
Testing is expensive, no matter who or where I have searched, e.g., universities, big well-known testing companies, small local testers, in the USA or overseas. The cost of new labels is also far from insignificant for a small business like Satch & Sol.
If you want to learn more specifics about Child Safety Test Requirements, this sites was recommended to me and I greatly appreciate the FAQ section linked here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.htmlSince I began buying lovely handmade woolens, knits and footwear for Satch & Sol in January 2007, but did not begin selling until August 2008 (excluding a few small sales made in Januaty 2008 during my market research phase), ALL my current children's inventory was made well before the cut off date for the new laws - thankfully (except when you think throught he nightmare accounting situation I have created for myself). I am still seeking to understand, what testing, if any, will be required for these items, especially since they use the same materials and process as the products I have asked the artsits to make and STR to test.
As my testing status nears completion, I will provide an update to this post. Given the contents and process of Satch & Sol's wholesome product line, we do not expect to find any issues, of course. So, it is a matter of obtaining the proper certificates for labels and paperwork, as well as figuring out how often testing must be done, e.g., per 'lot' or per style and color.
Phew. Not a fun topic, but one worht dealing with proactively and in a timely manner, since the date for compliance is in February 2009.
