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Childrenswear Law

Monday, February 09, 2009

Steve Levy, director of operations of Star Ride Kids and a member of the Coalition for Safe & Affordable Childrenswear, and Aaron Colangelo, attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, debate the "unintended consequences" of the new law regulating lead and phlalates in children's clothes.

Guests:

Aaron Colangelo and Steven Levy

Comments [16]

Voter from Brooklyn

Actually, aren’t ex post facto laws unconstitutional? Seems like that should have been the topic of debate since no one disagrees with the spirit of the legislation.

Feb. 09 2009 11:27 AM
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sadly

yes martin/12 toss everything.

and don't forget to toss factory food while you're at it.

then get on the horn and call your rep to create a real fda.

Feb. 09 2009 11:25 AM
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robert from park slope

call my a cynic, but I suspect that the entity that funded whatever research lies behind this bill is a competitor who will benefit through the attendant chaos

Feb. 09 2009 11:23 AM
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Voter from Brooklyn

If lead is items like buttons and zippers concerns the poster when it comes to factory workers and their children abroad, maybe she should look at the mother of pearl button industry and workers who manufacture tufted or napped wool products.

Feb. 09 2009 11:23 AM
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martin

what do we do now with all those yellow and blue soft plastic toys we have that my kids play with in the tub...toss everything?
they have played with this stuff for the 4 years of their life should i worry? get them tested?

Feb. 09 2009 11:23 AM
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Catherine from Rockville Centre

this law sounds unreasonable to me. I am all for regulating the manufacturing end, but not the sales end. My church has a thrift shop. Is it now illegal to sell used children's toys and clothing because it MIGHT have these toxins? How does that help the growing numbers of poor people who could use those things?

Feb. 09 2009 11:20 AM
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lynn pritchard from connecticut

I'm all for tighter regulation as to the safety of childrens products , however this law has much more extensive remifications due to it's retroactive nature - this law not only applies to new products on the shelves but also used and hand made . The results range from no more thrift store shopping for the kids (in this economy!)- No more used books or cirriculum materials - and No more craft fair buys or other artisan made items .... Even individualized sports team shirt businesses will fold because not one of these sectors effected by this law can affoard the testing that would be needed to comply with the law....
which I hear runs around 1500 to 1000 bucks per item - which if fine in large lots but impossible in individual cases or small lots - It's throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Feb. 09 2009 11:20 AM
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Simone Tan

Wasn't the problem with not enforcing existing legislation? How will an additional unintelligible law change anything?

Feb. 09 2009 11:19 AM
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jessica from Queens

I'm a children's clothing designer, and am wondering how these new regulations compare/relate to the Öko-Tex Standards?

Feb. 09 2009 11:16 AM
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jessica from Queens

I'm a children's clothing designer, and am wondering how these new regulations compare/relate to the Öko-Tex Standards?

Feb. 09 2009 11:16 AM
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Betty Ann from UES

I love that our children's clothes need a "Nutrition Facts."

This is an outrage. I am so sick of these big companies always going cheap and then crying communism when the government asks them to come clean.

Feb. 09 2009 11:16 AM
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Mary from New Jersey

Libraries are also concerned whether this law applies to library books and other items in the children's area of public libraries.

Feb. 09 2009 11:13 AM
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jenny from brooklyn

I am a seller on the hand-made site etsy.com, and this is a HUGE issue there. If this law passes, it will destroy most hand-made children's goods by craftspeople. There isn't a way for small businesses to accomodate it, and definitely no way for people who just make clothes or toys in their free time. I mean, a handmade, felted toy is dangerous?

Feb. 09 2009 11:12 AM
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Darius from Prospect Heights

How does lead get into children's clothing in the first place? Maybe I'm missing something.

Feb. 09 2009 11:12 AM
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Betty Ann from UES

SERIOUSLY, what the heck did the Bush Years do to us? We are facing crumbling infrastructure in every facet of government organization I can think of but the FDA?!?!

What is wrong with us that we are even having a debate about anything remotely toxic coming in contact with our children. I don't know one American citizen rich or poor that wold condone this. What about the kids/people making these clothes/toys ABROAD?

I am disgusted. What else is poisoning us?

Feb. 09 2009 11:11 AM
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Leadster

Boston Phoenix mocks this law most recent issue, argues it's ridiculous and will put small artisan toy makers out of business immediately. FYI

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/76302-Congresss-war-on-toys/

Feb. 09 2009 11:09 AM
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