Dementia for 2

Trent at the Simple Dollar has published an update to his recent article on selling used clothing. I am not going to quote the entire article but I do highly recommend that you jump over there and read it for yourself. There is some good news for those of us that buy and donate to our local thrift stores. I am just gong to quote the clarification from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

This clarification was issued on Jan. 8, so thanks to the many concerned individuals who have written in, here is what they have to say:

" The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties."

So, used clothing will still be available at thrift stores. They will not be required to dump their current inventory. You will still be banned from seeling items with too much lead and phthalate content. You could also be fined for selling these items.

The CPSC also added the following as a guideline for all of us:

"While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children’s products, particularly cribs and play yards; children’s products that may contain lead, such as children’s jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children."

I hope this clears things up for some of you. Personally, I am glad that the CPSC issued this clarification. The thought of all that clothing in our landfills gives me the willies!