The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a press release last week granting a 1-year stay of testing and certification requirements for certain products. Manufacturers, retailers and resellers have been asking the agency to review regulations it developed to enforce the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) banning phthalate and lead in products intended for children under the age of 12.

The CPSC regulations required every manufacturer, importer or private labeler of a children's product to have their product tested for phthalate and lead by an accredited independent testing lab and certified. The regulations affected handmade goods, and online marketplace Etsy had been warning for months that many of its artists and craftspeople members might not be able stay in business "due to the burdensome cost of testing and certification pursuant to the proposed legislation." Etsy had mobilized its users to get involved, and eBay also became involved in covering the regulations.

The full release is found on the CPSC.gov website. The CPSIA takes effect on February 10, 2009, and those manufacturing, importing and reselling children's products - including toys, books and clothing - are advised to understand new and existing requirements imposed on their activities.

Etsy told its users, "The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children's garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA."

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