big F Posted January 9, 2009 Posted January 9, 2009 I don't think they will be able to enforce it even less outside of the U.S of A. Well I sure if I give you my surplus toy and you let me look after some of your money for a while that would be o.k
SchizophrenicMC Posted January 10, 2009 Posted January 10, 2009 Well, I hate to contradict my earlier blanket pesimissm, but given you live in Texas... you do have one Congressman in a nearby district who isn't a dick and who actually would do something about this kind of thing if you contacted him. Pete I find myself in disagreement by experience. In the past, my congressman's always been a dick. Every one of them. And, for that matter, once my dad voted for a senator who claimed to be pro-2nd ammendment, but when he came into office, he voted for every, single gun ban. I don't trust congressmen. I just don't. Anyway, I'm pretty sure the lead safety thing was, until now, 650 PPM. Warning labels that are stupid, but real: Hairdryer: Do NOT use this product while sleeping Toaster: Do NOT immerse in water when in use Blender: Do NOT use this product with explosive/flammable products Microwave: Do NOT place electronic devices in this microwave cooking device I read all of those in the various appliance manuals for their respective devices in my house. What they mean: "Someone did this. We got sued. Don't do this. It'll hurt you, and this disclaimer's here, so it won't hurt us." So, why not "Sucking on this toy may be bad for your health"? I mean, everything (Even a generic bottle I saw once) has a label that says "This product is known to the state of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects."
Roger Posted January 11, 2009 Posted January 11, 2009 http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/cpsia.asp Much ado about nothing.
GobotFool Posted January 11, 2009 Posted January 11, 2009 (edited) There is a small legal problem regarding retroactivity. Because the ban on phthalates in children's products is being enforced by the "Consumer Product Safety Act" this does protect products that existed before the law was enforced from being retroactively banned. This allows for a gradual phase out of a hazardous substance in consumer goods and does not criminalize anyone selling a product that does not the current standards, as long as that product was produced before the new standards were introduced. But the ban on lead tainted paint, while part of these new additions to laws regulating consumer product standards, is being enforced under the "Federal Hazardous Substance Act", so toys with lead paint do not just violate current standards, but considered a hazardous substance that must be eliminated. There is no reason that this harsher standard should have been applied to lead paint, as it could have easily been applied to phtalates, other than a knee jerk reaction to the recent events involving shady material choices from chinese factories. While some might complain about the banning of particular products, like lawn darts, that is a specific product targeted for elimination for whatever good or bad reason they had for doing it at that time. It has been illegal to sell banned "recalled" products of any kind long before this act. What makes this particular law "hazardous" to citizens of the US is it is not even banning a specific product, it is declaring all products containing paint that violates current standards as a hazardous substance, and cannot be sold anywhere, even if they were made before the new standards came into being. Of course as has been mentioned before, for the most part its not gloom and doom, and fears of some toy kind of toy-police knocking down doors and shutting down collectible and thrift store is unlikely. 1. No one is obligated to test products made before the enforcement of this act. All the stuff you see about changes to official certification of a toy's adherence to safety standards, does not apply to your current collection. So you're not obligated to test stuff in your possession if you choose to sell it if it was made before these new standards, however if someone else starts testing older toys, just for the fun of it and their results prove credible and show that a particular older line exceeds the current standards, you might be in trouble. As much as I don't like "don't ask don't tell" policies of any kind, in this case, the simplest solution when it comes to keeping your collection safe, is don't tempt fate and test older toy lines for lead paint. 2. Fortunately most of your old toys probably adhere to these standards, regarding the lead content in the paint used on them, and if they do have pthalates in them, the new law doesn't apply to them retroactively. For the most part its much ado about nothing, the most you have to fear is some crazy radical that wants to ban all toys, so I wouldn't panic, but collectors and sellers of vintage toys do need to be aware that this law is not absolutely toothless. You can find the legal report I got this information from in this PDF 320.pdf Edited January 11, 2009 by GobotFool
big F Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 Warning labels that are stupid, but real: Hairdryer: Do NOT use this product while sleeping Toaster: Do NOT immerse in water when in use Or my personal favorite, on the back of a packet of Peanuts "Warning this product may contain nuts" My brother finds this one amusing as Peanuts are about the only nuts he can eat without going all blotchy
eugimon Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 Or my personal favorite, on the back of a packet of Peanuts "Warning this product may contain nuts" My brother finds this one amusing as Peanuts are about the only nuts he can eat without going all blotchy thats bizarre, why would a bag of peanuts contain nuts? What's next, the random carrot mixed in with a bag of apples?
EXO Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 thats bizarre, why would a bag of peanuts contain nuts? What's next, the random carrot mixed in with a bag of apples? peanuts aren't nuts... they are legumes.
edwin3060 Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 Peanuts are often processed together with other (real) nuts at the same factory-- you never just see a peanut factory, the same factory produces hazelnuts, brazil nuts, etc. Sometimes random bits of nuts can end up with other nuts in the same packaging, which is why your brother should really heed the warning, if those nuts cause allergic reactions.
big F Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) Peanuts are often processed together with other (real) nuts at the same factory-- you never just see a peanut factory, the same factory produces hazelnuts, brazil nuts, etc. Sometimes random bits of nuts can end up with other nuts in the same packaging, which is why your brother should really heed the warning, if those nuts cause allergic reactions.Used to work next door to a biscuit bar factory they processed all their own stuff. They had a sign up that said warning building may contain nuts. Although I think they meant the staff. Man when that place closed down the mice loved it. My bro is only mildly alergic he gets a few blotches etc and a bit of an itchy sensation on his skin. it goes in a few hours and dose not seem to bother him much. he will often eat walnuts anyhow just cos he loves them. peanuts aren't nuts... they are legumes. True but most just assume they are nuts. Therefore popular culture just says so. In my brothers case most people who have nut alergies are also alergic to peanuts, he is not though. I suppose a bag of dried roasted salted green peas would not be as nice. " bag of peas with your beer sir" The analogy of people being stupid still stands though especially when you see signs on the side of BBQ lighter sticks that say this item may be flammable and do not use near highly flammable liquids. I suppose it all stems from things like Objects in the rear mirror may closer than the appear. Probably some Motor Co got sued when messed up parking one day at the supermarket. Edited January 12, 2009 by big F
eugimon Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) peanuts aren't nuts... they are legumes. yes... which is why I think it's bizarre that an entirely different sort of food would be mixed in with a bag of peanuts. Like I said, it's like buying a bag of apples and finding a carrot inside. Peanuts are often processed together with other (real) nuts at the same factory-- you never just see a peanut factory, the same factory produces hazelnuts, brazil nuts, etc. Sometimes random bits of nuts can end up with other nuts in the same packaging, which is why your brother should really heed the warning, if those nuts cause allergic reactions. Ah, thanks. That makes sense now. My friend's kid is allergic to peanuts, just the smell of them will make her break out in hives so I get it now that if they're being processed around each other, the oils could cross contaminate. Edited January 12, 2009 by eugimon
miriya Posted January 12, 2009 Posted January 12, 2009 Sorry for being lazy and not reading the 3 pages of posts but is this for real or what? Is it actually going to be illegal to sell used toys? If I want to get rid of any of my macross or Tranformers can I still sell them on ebay? Could someone give me a SHORT answer that sums up the ACTUAL situation?
VFTF1 Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 No it's not for real. Sleep easy or read Lonewolf's post explaining and elaborating. This whole thread was a big to-do about nothing. Pete
miriya Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 No it's not for real. Sleep easy or read Lonewolf's post explaining and elaborating. This whole thread was a big to-do about nothing. Pete Thank you VFTF1. I hope it gets closed then. Otherwise stupid people like me get to worrying.
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