Is the Consumer Product Safety Commission Nixing Children's Goods at Thrift Stores and Resale Shops?

I am lucky to live in an area with some of the finest thrift store shopping around. Even as I blog, I've got pizza crust dough going in the bread machine I bought at one, barely used, for just $10. Now, I wouldn't ever buy a car seat or a crib at one, but over the years I've purchased a ton of my son's clothing at thrift stores or consignment stores. I've never figured it up, but I have probably saved in the thousands of dollars buying for my family. So imagine my surprise when I started hearing parents talk about how the new law (starting Feb. 10) was going to put a big ole' honkin' red light on buying children's goods at my favorite spots.

Luckily, it looks like these stores are in the clear for now. The CPSC issued a statement that clears the issue up and brings my blood pressure level back down to normal:

"Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties."

It does leave me wondering about eBay (are sellers there considered resellers?) and about grass roots marketplaces like Etsy. If I interpret correctly, it sounds like sellers on eBay would be fine without testing as long as they were selling old items, but the folks on Etsy might be considered manufacturers and would have to test and certify goods, perhaps? If so, what a ginormous bummer for the folks involved in making all those items and those of us who love to find something a little less mainstream and homogenized. Still, selling homemade wares for children should come with some responsibility. Just one example involves the tricked out, crystal covered binkies that were recalled in 2007. Can we say that exemptions should be made just because it's one person toiling away at home over a sewing machine?

More coverage of the issue:

• CPSIA Sacrifices Budget for Baby Products Safety
• Rethinking Secondhand
• Small Toy Makers Panic due to Toy Testing Law Soon to be in Effect
• After Feb. 10, Forget About Buying Used Kids' Gear
• Lead May Close Thrift Stores
• CPSC Sheds Light on Thrift Shop Guidelines
• The Fed Spares Thrift Stores
• Are Hand-Me-Downs, Resale Items On Endangered List?