Source: Impart Quilters World – Sandra L. Hatch email newsletter – Feb. 27, 2009, Vol. 6 No. 3

 "On Aug. 14, 2008, the Congress of the United States passed a law called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. We understand that it went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009. The purpose of this act is to establish consumer product-safety standards and other safety requirements for children’s products, and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can learn more about it at Cpsc.gov.

"Basically, the Act states that all products marketed or intended for children 12 or under must undergo testing by a certified laboratory to be CPSIA compliant. There are enormous costs to do so, and fines and penalties involved for noncompliance."

At this time, the law should be in effect, but as of Jan. 30, the Commission granted a one-year stay of enforcement for testing and certification requirements. It is not known how or if the Act will impact the Binky Patrol and other charitable organizations. For now, the people at Project Linus have issued the following statement that is also posted on its Web site:

Charitable organizations have been working with representatives from Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission for clarification of how the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act may or may not affect our charity and others. We do not anticipate that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will have an impact on our organization or its mission. We do not manufacture, import or sell children’s items. We will continue to carry out our mission with the same dedication as we have for the past 12 years. Thanks to all of our chapter coordinators, blanketeers and other volunteers for your support and devotion to our organization.