New law restricts re-sale of kid's products

08:53 AM CST on Wednesday, January 7, 2009

By SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News

A new federal law is raising concerns and questions nationwide and here in Austin.

On February 10, 2009 it will be illegal to re-sell any used children's products including toys and clothing. That is according to the U.S. Consumer Protection & Safety Commission who pushed for the new laws after dozens of toys were recalled in 2008 because of lead concerns.

Toys, clothing and other items used by children under 12 will be subjected to lead testing and will have to have labels on them to prove that they have passed inspection.

What is raising the ire of parents and business owners far and wide is what this will mean to clothing, toys and other children products made before February 10, 2009.

Gary Walthall, the owner of Once upon a Child, a resale shop specializing in children's clothing and other items, is afraid that he'll have to close up shop.

Adding to the confusion and frustration is the fact that the U.S. Consumer Products and Safety Commission is not returning calls or e-mails to the countless re-salers and even journalists who have tried in vain to get clarification on what the law means to garage sales and how it will be enforced.

Source: KVUE News

Say goodbye to thrift stores and garage sales, this is pretty depressing stuff. Whatever happened to watching your kids and teaching them to wash their hands and not to eat their toys?

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Wow....eBay and Craigslist listings will definitely be affected.

Not sure that this is solely for the protection of our children.

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Well, how the heck did I reach the ripe old age of 48 without the Fed protecting me from such things? I mean, technically, I should be dead!

I think you're right, Arny. This is such a dimwitted move for the reasons specified, it's too dimwitted even for the government. There's something else going on here.

I wonder if it is illegal to GIVE used toys and clothes, or just illegal to re-SELL them? I mean if someone on Craig's List GAVE someone toys, and that person decided to GIVE something of commensurate value as a thank you, would that be illegal?

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We have the Police,Smoking Police,Booze Police and now the Toy Police. What's next.

"What you in For" "Selling 2nd hand toys"

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Don't forget the produce police, keeping us safe from evil tomatos and spinach

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I'm 36 and am wondering how I lived this long as well!

Trust me, I'm more into health, never smoked, drank or anything...but see most of my parents generation still living after their whole family smoked.

I smell something more underhanded like most of the above posters.

(at first, I thought this was going to be selling things on ebay...along the lines of music sharing)

                        

Well I've made it to my 40's and golly geez I'm still here and it isn't going to be the toys that I collect that are likely to get me. Maybe the 21 year old college student I call my DS, but not the toys.

They should remember the Grandfather Law and apply it here. Parents beware that any toy of children's item manufactured prior to February 2009 might not be up to standards. That way we will not be sending all the perfectly fine stuff that isn't dangerous into landfills just because of the date of manufacture. Come on legislators!

Then again I'm from Illinois, the land of Governors that sell Senate Seats.

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