Little Tikes Toy Recall

Little Tikes Co. is recalling 1.6 million workshop sets and trucks due to a choking hazard.

Plastic nails (red or blue) sold with a variety of Little Tikes children's products are the culprit. The recall includes the Electronic Project Workshop, Little HandiWorker Workhorse, Home Improvements 2-Sided Workshop, Swirlin' Sawdust Workshop and Black Pickup Truck with Tools.

You should immediately remove the nails and contact the company for instructions on how to obtain free replacement parts.

The affected toys were sold at retailers nationwide and online, from March 1994 through June 2009, for between $25 and $100. The products were manufactured in the U.S. and China.

For more information, visit http://cpsc.gov.

Wave 3 interveiw

Here's a link to the story WAVE 3 ran about the clarification of the product law with my comments:  See story

One thing I need to note is that he stated consignment is now "exempt from the law." That's not exactly the case. We are not exempt from the law - we can't sell products that are over the lead limits. We are exempt from testing all products.

Stay tuned for details in the next blog on how Little Treasures will comply with CPSIA and how you can help as you prepare your items.

Sites to voice your concern

Following sites are being circulated in an effort to have our collective voices heard about the how the product safety law will effect resale.  Can't hurt:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from _the_cpsia

http://www.rallycongress.com/make-second-hand-kids-clothes-legal/1471/save-kid-s-clothing

Response from government expected today

My sources tell me that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission will release a statement today or tomorrow that addresses how the new law affects the resale industry.

Again, we are hopeful that the language will change to minimize the fallout.

I will post their statement as soon as it's made available. Keep checking the blog for details.

In the meantime, please familiarize yourself with product safety and the recall list:  www.cpsc.gov. You can even receive regular email feeds of the latest recalls.

Thank you for all your support!

CPSIA - What it means for thrifty parents

*Please note: Little Treasures Spring/Summer sale will proceed as scheduled. Please check our blog for regular updates on CPSIA and how it may effect items we can accept.

Have you heard about what's going on with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA) that goes into effect Feb. 10, 2009? We want to keep you informed and assure you that we are working with a network of other sales across the nation to get clarification from Congress on how this act may impact the resale industry.

CPSIA was signed in Aug. 2008 and it has great intentions to protect children (under 12) from exposure to lead and certain phthalates. In a nutshell, ALL children's products (including clothes) manufactured after 2/10/09 are required to have certification that lead does not exceed 660 ppm. But as written, it creates "unintended consequences" for the resale industry because it has been interpreted to apply to all children's products in commerce, regardless of manufacture date. Which means that reselling children's things that have not been tested for lead is illegal.

We want you to know that Little Treasures is 100% in favor of getting toxic children's products out of circulation. We are going to help with the effort. However, this piece of legislation's blanket approach will cause adverse effects to resale, the environment and families who need a way to make extra money during these tough times. 

We are reaching out to John Yarmuth in an effort to get clarification on the language of CPSIA and exactly what processes we need to put in place for our sale in the coming year.

Here are a few links that provide accurate information about the act and contact information for contacting congress if you choose to do so:

CPSIA

Smart Mama

Find your representative

Find your senator

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Please stay tuned for details. I will continue to post information as it becomes available. 

See you at the sale!