Congress and the CPSC need to address the problems with CPSIA implementation to help small businesses by restoring "common sense" to our nation's product safety laws.
CPSIA Casualty of the Week for November 9
♪ ♫ 76 Trombones Taken Away by the CPSC… ♪ ♫
CPSC Ruling: The Day the Music Died for Elementary School Brass Bands?
In an unfortunate but widely expected decision last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 3-2 to reject a petition to exempt brass from the new CPSIA-mandated lead standard.
While the petition was specifically submitted for brass bushings that hold a wheel onto the axle of a toy truck, the CPSC's vote will have widespread repercussions. In addition to brass zippers, grommets and other apparel and footwear components, victims of this decision include brass instruments, musical bells and certain strings used in a string instrument.
By in effect outlawing brass in children's products as defined by CPSIA (any product used primarily by a child 12 and under) the CPSC's actions call into question the future of school bands. Will young musicians in their school band's brass section now have to hum along with their peers, or switch to the recorder or a (plastic) kazoo?
The fact is that brass is routinely used in countless products used and touched by children daily, including door knobs, locker handles, and much, much more. There is no danger of lead poisoning from brass. CPSC staff wrote that they consider brass bushings safe and that the lead transmission from brass bushings is inconsequential and certainly not rising to the level of a hazardous substance. However, staff believed that that CPSIA offers no flexibility to the CPSC to assess risk.
Members of Congress who have refused to amend the CPSIA claimed that all would be well once new Commissioners were in place. These new Commissioners had another opportunity to vote for common sense. Unfortunately, two of the three new Commissioners believed CPSIA does not allow this - common sense has been thrown to the brass heap for now.
To see a webcast of the CPSC's public hearing on the brass exemption petition, click here.
To read the Wall Street Journal's stinging editorial about the brass decision, click here.
Do not accept the status quo! Tell Congress and the CPSC to restore "common sense" to our nation's product safety laws. Click here for instructions on how to contact the CPSC and your representatives in Congress.
For more information, please contact Caitlin Andrews at (202) 828-7637 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org.