Concerned Shop Owner Meets With Congressman About CPSIA

[ This is another in a series of posts by Susan Maphis covering the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade and sign up for her CPSIA Alerts Mailing List ]

Jessica Hickey, founder of BuggaLove.com, a company featuring handcrafted nursery decor (and children’s clothing, for now), has been lobbying against the CPSIA. Last Friday, she met with Representative Charlie Dent of her home district in Pennsyvlania to voice her concerns. Hickey said during their meeting, she did most of the talking, telling Dent that all of her supplies are purchased in the U.S., and that she’s found, after contacting her suppliers, so far, each component of her products is lead-free.

Hickey told Dent that using third-party testing is too expensive and difficult for her company to do. She informed him about XRF testing, an option that has been proposed by other handcrafters, in which handcrafters would test the components of their products using an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanner.

“I discussed how the paint I use is acrylic, non-toxic, water based paint, made in the USA and is lead free,” Hickey says. “I let him know that as much as I want to comply with the law, I am unable to and this will result in my business closing down as of August. I mentioned I’d be using XRF technology to screen my products for lead at this point, and while I was making this good faith effort, even that wasn’t approved to keep me compliant in terms of my painted products the way the law is currently written.”

Hickey left the meeting feeling Dent agrees that deadlines for the CPSIA should be postponed, and that he wants to help get amendments to the law passed so that small businesses like hers can stay in business. Dent had already drafted a letter, with five other Pennsyvlania congressmen, to the Energy and Commerce Committee, who in turn sent this letter to the CPSC regarding their concerns about the law.

In the meantime, Hickey is continuing to contact manufacturers of her supplies to determine if they contain lead. She is also planning to test her components using XRF technology, to keep her items in compliance until August.

“I believe, based on my research regarding XRF testing, that it is a good screening tool for lead for all of my products,” Hickey says. “Additionally, component testing is the only reasonable way for me to test, because my products are made-to-order and/or one-of-a-kind. Digestive testing is not physically possible, in addition to being prohibitive financially. So, I am going to move forward with my “reasonable testing program”. I am going to stay in business until August and hope in the next seven months there will be change enough to allow me to continue BuggaLove.”

You can view Hickey’s unique designs at BuggaLove.com, where her children’s apparel is now on sale. Creepers (such as the one pictured above) are 50% off, with free shipping. Hickey also recommends that anyone who is concerned about the law become involved, by contacting their congressman, contacting the Energy and Commerce Committee, and spreading the word about the CPSIA so that it’s not forgotten.

[ For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade]