Used Children's Clothing Illegal To Sell After February 10, 2009!!!
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
January 8, 2009 4:22pm CST
I just read that used children's clothing will be illegal to sell after February 10, 2009. That is unless you have them tested for lead! How in the world can anyone buy clothing at Goodwill, etc. or from yard sales any more now? Why did this pass? I have a ton of clothing my children have outgrown and now what are my options? I was going to put them up on ebay.
Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children's clothing.
The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead.
Now, there will certainly be landfills just full of usable clothing. That is not very enviornmentally concious, is it? I can't believe this. I wonder how much that retailers will fight this. I think maybe it is too strict of a law.
Have you heard of this before just now? I am so shocked. I am all for the safety of our children, but I think this new law sounds a little extreme.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children's clothing.
The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead.
Now, there will certainly be landfills just full of usable clothing. That is not very enviornmentally concious, is it? I can't believe this. I wonder how much that retailers will fight this. I think maybe it is too strict of a law.
Have you heard of this before just now? I am so shocked. I am all for the safety of our children, but I think this new law sounds a little extreme.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
7 people like this
21 responses
@doulaworks (1079)
• United States
8 Jan 09
the law to exempt resale stores and thrift type stores the CPSC sent out an aleret to clarify the new law on 1/8/09 visit the link to see for yor self
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html It states "sellers of used products are not required to certifty"
be well
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157813)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I am glad I am reading the other responses. It is good that used clothing will be exempt. I still think if it is used and has been laundered a few times it would be safe.
@doulaworks (1079)
• United States
8 Jan 09
yes you can do all of that as long as you are not knowingly selling things that have been recalled
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
8 Jan 09
this must be an american thing as i havent heard of this at all, just only on mylot. i think this is horrible because it is so environmentally UNfriendly that the people that thought of this should be ashamed of themselves. (i am in canada and this is news to me!)
1 person likes this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
8 Jan 09
I never knew they had Lead in Children Clothers, now I heard they had it in the Toys. This is new to me, You learn something new everyday!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
8 Jan 09
I heard it discussed on the radio today and evidently it is only for new clothing. I hope they are right. There are a lot of kids that aren't going to get "new" clothes if it's as harsh as you say. I don't know anyone right now that can afford to buy their children brand new clothes, especially since the price will rise because of this new law.
1 person likes this
@Dragonofgold (509)
• Canada
8 Jan 09
WHAT!? That's can't be right. I love Value Village. They would go banko if that were really going on. why kids and not adults?
How would the lead get into the clothing?
Only the stuff with the plastics, right? Clothes without plastics should be okay then, shouldn't they?
I'm not rich enough to give up thrift stores, expecially cuz I have 4 kids.
1 person likes this
@KaMlBob (786)
• United States
9 Jan 09
The reason for them doing it for childrens clothing is because elevated levels of lead can cause brain damage, from what I understand. I don't know what the other chemical they mention is though, but it must be toxic.
@lilcee (2703)
• United States
8 Jan 09
I heard a little of this on the news last night but I didn't understand what they were talking about. That's terrible. What is everyone going to do with their leftover baby clothes they don't need? And what about people who have baby's and they can't afford to buy new clothes for them? I don't know how this is going to work.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Wow..I was going to put some on eBay also the clothes my little sister outgrew. Now this just sucks. You would think that the new clothes will have to be tested for lead before leaving the warehouses now also. That is going to cost a bundle. Especially for clothes that are imported. My little sister does chew on her clothes sometimes thanks for the warning I will try to discourage it now and take precautions. I would hope that they might be recycled and made into clothing for adults or teens.
@GardenGerty (157813)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I have heard of this, and I am shocked. I completely outfitted my granddaughter last summer. It will be a shame. I guess you can always give it away, or barter it, but not sell. Who knows. I would also think that used clothing would have been laundered enough that any lead or pthalates would be washed away.
@KaMlBob (786)
• United States
9 Jan 09
My daughter is 5 (almost 6) and she has a ton of beautiful clothing, I take really good care of it purposefully so I can hand it down to a friend of mine who has a younger daughter.
I agree with you, when you wash clothing again and again, it HAS to wash away any bad dyes and chemicals used. I am wondering if all the beading and sequins on some of my daughter's clothing contains toxins.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
9 Jan 09
This does sound really out there .
If the clothes contained lead do ya think it wold hurt the ones that the clothes were bought for in the first place!!!!???? DO all new clothes go thru this proccess to see if they contain lead before put ion the market!?
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I have not heard of this and it is something stupid if you ask me. When my kids were little they wore garage sale clothes and clothes bought from second hand stores. They outgrow them so fast it is a waste of money to buy new clothes for them and my son was the world's worse with pants, wearing holes in the knees. This will be a big mistake when it happens.
@jerzgirl (9234)
• United States
2 Feb 09
This is ridiculous! Everyone needs to contact their Congressional reps and tell them just what they can do with this law. My kids never got lead poisoning of any kind, nor did I as a child. I can only imagine just how many buttons they'd have had to consume in order to be poisoned! Stay the hell out of my personal business, government. If I hadn't been able to get used clothing for my kids, they'd have gone naked!
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
15 Jan 09
Talk about "Extreme Caution"
I havent heard of this law yet but it kinda is a bit of an overkill so to speak. I mean sure testing them would be for the safety of the children but dont they think that the people who will buy those used clothing will test it out themselves and would make sure that its clean and safe for their children to wear? Its kinda like saying that most people are dangerous even to themselves and that they dont know any better.
Also, they really didnt think on how this law might impact most business existing that specializes on used childrens clothing. Lots of people would be out of jobs and possible livelihood. There are numerous possible effects once this law is passed and I think it kinda rides along with the global financial crisis.
Just a thought..
I havent heard of this law yet but it kinda is a bit of an overkill so to speak. I mean sure testing them would be for the safety of the children but dont they think that the people who will buy those used clothing will test it out themselves and would make sure that its clean and safe for their children to wear? Its kinda like saying that most people are dangerous even to themselves and that they dont know any better.
Also, they really didnt think on how this law might impact most business existing that specializes on used childrens clothing. Lots of people would be out of jobs and possible livelihood. There are numerous possible effects once this law is passed and I think it kinda rides along with the global financial crisis. Just a thought..
@Wordplay (239)
• Canada
9 Jan 09
I'm relieved to learn that thrift stores (Goodwill etc.) and consignment stores will be exempt from this law. When I first imagined all those beautiful and perfectly usable clothes going into a landfill...that is enough to make me cry.
Fortunately, the goverment saw fit to either modify their laws or clarify them. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a response to public outcry.
I shop at thrift stores as a matter of survival. That is the best way for me to purchase good quality clothes at great prices. And whatever I don't use I pass along to friends. I know there are many frugal friends out there who are in the same boat. And at a time when the economy is at an all-time low, I'm sure that more and more people are turning to second-hand shops to clothe their families. If there had been a ban on used clothes, it would have come at the worst time possible.
BTW...how do they put lead into clothing? I suppose there are ways...you never know what they put in those chemicals they spray on clothes to make them stain-resistant, flame-retardant or whatever. I'm sure if we knew how many chemicals there are in our clothes, we would be horrified.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I think it is very extreme and might even deprive some kids of clothes to wear. I could see enforcing it in the manufacturing end....but not on the sale of clothes that have already been worn or manufactured before this date. I think it's really too big of a thing for them to enforce at rummage sales etc....I wonder if they ever thought that they might be hurting a child more by depriving them of clothing then the lead that could be contained in the material.
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
9 Jan 09
Hello, we don't sell used children's clothing because we usually donate them to charities or to our helpers at home. But I understand where you are coming form. Clothing can be such a waste yet still a necessity. Plus, aunts love to give cute children's clothes as presents. Anyway, I don't know if the lead thing is true. I think some people are just overreacting.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
9 Jan 09
Hi schulzie~Yes, unfortunately I have just heard of this
law too and it is a terrible shame! There will be alot of
children that will not be able to get these clothes and
the clothes will end up being thrown out for no reason! It
doesn't make much sense! I can see them not wanting certain
items to be sold like toys and certain other products. But,
clothing containing lead? Since when? That would be pretty
rare I think? This will be a terrible shame! There are too
many children that need clothes that will just end up in
the trash! They really need to find a better way to fix
this!
@stardustw83 (435)
• United States
9 Jan 09
From what i gather from the actual law it would only apply to toys and other hard plastic items not really clothing.
But i don't think YOU would get in to trouble if you decided to sell your childrens clothing. As it would be a private sell.
