Government Bans Children’s Books Printed Before 1985
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 bans all existing inventories of children’s products unless they’ve been tested for “hazardous substances.” The Act applies to the sale of “any children’s product” — toys, books, clothes, etc. This ban includes items at thrift/consignment stores.
Excerpts from articles:
“The island of misfit toys is about to become a landfill. Unless something drastic forces Congress to repeal its recent actions, a new law will virtually force every thrift store and many small businesses out of business on February 10, 2009; all existing inventory will officially incur the status of “Banned Hazardous Substance.” [Consumer Product Safety Commission's clarification: Thrift stores don’t have to test existing inventory, but they are still held liable if that inventory does not comply.]”
“True, toys with lead paint cause a legitimate scare that we must deal with. But must we deal with it with more government control? Can we not take care of our problems without Nanny State holding the hands of business, and diapering the behinds of bureaucrats?! Why write the laws so broadly and pretend the consequences mean nothing?”
Read more:
The New Book Banning: Children’s books burn, courtesy of the federal government.
Consumer Safety’s War on Thrift
Here Come the Kiddie Clothes Police