Thread: When will it happen here?

Yes, interesting stuff. Let's hope sanity prevails with those in government in US so that any flow on to Australia is also reasonable.

Isn't this why U-beaut sells Non-Toxic paints and finishes

In his statement I had to laugh when he says

no child, he said, has ever been hurt by one of his small boats, cars, helicopters or rattles.

Is this because they don't ply with them they are store on shelves to look at ?

I recall my sisters wooden rattle hand made was used to hit many an unsuspecting head

Many kids weren't hurt but adults tripping falling stumbling over them were.

If it happens here it will destroy our clubs biggest fundraiser - DIY toy kits for budding young chippies to put together - and there's not too much that Oz law makers don't copy off the US

Originally Posted by TTIT

If it happens here it will destroy our clubs biggest fundraiser - DIY toy kits for budding young chippies to put together - and there's not too much that Oz law makers don't copy off the US

Vern how could it effect that if they are sold raw

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Vern how could it effect that if they are sold raw

I was thinking along the lines of how evil we would be to supply kids with 'lethal weapons' like nails and screws or small parts they might choke on (if they have mouths big enough to hold a 4x2 )

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Vern how could it effect that if they are sold raw

Our club should prolly stop using chip board in the kits. Although it is in the pencil boxes.

I think the hand made food sold in markets had a similar thing happen with food safety laws. But there was something worked out that wasn't so over the top, for small "producers". Australia is a bit better at working out compromises like that.

Sanity won't prevail and soon enough Dudd will see that his idol, whom he worships, has passed a law so Dudd will adopt it as his 'war'. (as Titt has alluded to)

Call me cynical.

According to an article in the latest issue of American Woodturner it goes further than just toys.

Here's an excerpt from that article

The unintended consequence may be that small craft businesses and hobby­ists, as makers of handmade items, will need to prove—through elaborate and expensive tests at authorized laborato­ries—that their products are nontoxic and safe for children under the age of 12. The new regulations are scheduled to be implemented in February 2010.
For woodturners, that could cover a host of craft and gift items: pens, tops, baby rattles, buttons, ornaments, jewelry, beads, key rings, bottle stop­pers, tableware—from scoops to honey dippers to salad bowls and serving trays—and an array of objects that the law mentions only as "small parts."
The good news is that turnings made entirely of untreated wood (without paint, surface coatings, or hardware) may be sold or given away without needing certification that they have passed testing for lead or other dangerous substances. However, the law states that any product that has an applied finish or uses certain glues or addi­tives is subject to testing. (Imported or exotic woods are not specified, although many individuals are aller­gic to some species.)

Govt regs are taking away all incentive for the cottage industry

What they are proposing to do doesn't make sense. It appears that none of the problems are associated with the small volume American toy makers so it ought to follow that they should be exempt from the testing procedures. If the authorities have a problem with that, then they could have the occasional spot check done by the toy police from time to time.

I wish y'all good luck on this one...
"Sanity" and "US Government" cannot be used in the same sentence (or thought).
Gil

The unintended consequence may be that small craft businesses and hobby#ists, as makers of handmade items, will need to prove—through elaborate and expensive tests at authorized laborato#ries—that their products are nontoxic and safe for children under the age of 12. The new regulations are scheduled to be implemented in February 2010.

Well for the entrepreneurial toy maker I would suggest exceptionally clear images of his or her toy and label it 13years and up.... the parents can decide who to give it to.

We already have laws here to deal with the leadbased finishes on imported toys and indeed some 15 lines were confiscated from shops in Nov. / December last year purported to be either dangerous with SMALL ITEMS able to be swallowed and /or finishing not suitable ie.Leadbased paint and leadbased castings. To my knowledge these laws have been in force for better than 15 years although I believe they have been enforced more rigorously for the last 6 or 7 years. I do know when I had a country general store about 7 years ago one supplier had a recall of a line that did not conform [made in China ]and a complete 40 foot container load failed and was destroyed .
They had a helluva job getting compensated as toys contract specified that product met Australian standards. Lead based paint dont conform . the govt. department concerned does flying visits to retailers and importers and are merciless in their investigations. We dont need any more regulations . trust this throws some harmonious light on the subject from our point of view Cheers for now www

Surely any certification can ride on the back of any manufacturers certification.
ie if the benevolent dictator says the shellawax is non toxic then if I use it and certify that I've not used something else then common sense should allow me to rely on that.

We've had statutory toy standards for many many years
and yes you may be subject to them, but the qualifier is that you must be in trade or commerce - and a lot of us very well may be.

What Gil said.

The really strange thing about it all, is that these rules were made by people who survived the earlier hazardous state of affairs. Children will now be deprived of the opportunity of developing their immune systems, and we can expect even more restrictions as more diseases manifest. There's medical research supporting this theory of too much protection. Innocent allergies are on the rise, too.

I had an uncle who worked as a type founder; breathed lead fumes daily. He had the good sense to drink about two quarts of milk every day, to help leach the poison. He died at the ripe old age of 86. Nobody gets out alive.

Stirring the pot,
Joe