Toys at risk

Yes, the rumors are true. A bill passed in August 2008 mandates testing for all toys being imported to the U.S. Already, one of my European favorites, Selecta, has announced that they will pull out of the U.S. market at the end of 2008 because the cost of this new testing will be too prohibitive. 

I appreciate that the government is trying to protect our kids, but they didn't make any provisions in the bill for the small U.S. firms that still make toys, or the crafters on Etsy, for instance. At $4,000 a pop, these people will not be able to afford the testing.

In addition, the European companies already meet the stringent standards of the E.U., but apparently that will count for nothing here. 

Please stop by the Handmade Toy Alliance to read more and to take action. Follow their links to write to your representatives. We've got the power to change this! Let's not see the small, innovative toy companies driven out of the U.S.