Chances are you haven't heard of this law going into effect in Feburary, I hadn't until I was reading a friends blog the other day. Now again today I have stumbled across it. What is it you ask here is an overview from Cool Mom Picks

We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.
With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.

It also affects the sale of clothes for children under 12, clothing that is not tested for lead and phthalates will be illegal to sell...this means consingnment sales and yard sales. If the goverment truly wants to help the economy don't put moms out of work that sell handmade products.

To get involved go to Cool Mom Picks for links

Let's not sit idly by and let goverment regulation put moms out of business and make big business stronger!