Dan Marshall of the Handmade Toy Alliance joined us on LaunchPad Radio. We talked about how the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 came about and what impact it is having on small businesses and toy safety.

Under the CPSIA, every manufacturer of children’s products is supposed to have their products independently tested for lead and other chemicals. It turns out that Mattel, the largest toymaker in America, the company whose recall of 19 million toys in 2007 underscored the challenges with imported toy safety, has been exempted from this requirement.

Mattel spent $2 million lobbying Congress in 2008. Did they take the lemons created by its poor oversight of manufacturers in China and make some lemonade?

If they did, it’s lemonade that tastes real sour to the small businesses being pushed out of business by the CPSIA’s regulations.

What about safety? Toyboxes seem no safer in 2010 then they were in 2007.

The good news?

The Handmade Toy Alliance and other grassroots groups continue to push for changes to the CPSIA that will fulfill the goal of safer products in the marketplace, without punishing the small companies and crafters who have effectively managed their supply chains and produced safe products.

Their message is beginning to be heard.  Also, many individuals and families continue to show their support by pledging to buy handmade this holiday season.

Hear the whole story:

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