CPSIA: Bicycles Built by 535
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), approved by 534 of the 535 members of the 2008 Congress, is prohibiting bicycle manufacturers from producing bikes for kids:
According to Burns, general counsel for Trek Bicycles and head of the BPSA’s legislative committee, the biggest problem for the bicycle industry is the CPSIA requirement limiting total lead content. While the requirement currently stands at 600 parts per million, that limit drops to 300 parts per million in August and Burns suggested that it could go as low as 100 parts per million.
Burns said most Shrader valves [inflation valves on tires] contain lead in excess of these requirements. He added that despite suggestions for alternative metals, the industry to date has not been able to source the core inside a valve stem without using brass.
See, the CPSIA requires the lower lead limits for any part of a product intended for children that can fit in their mouth. Regardless of whether or not the children will put it in their mouth. I don’t see a lot of tire-stem-suckers among the under 12 set out there.
Congress is Stupid
Congress has, so far, refused to amend the CPSIA to allow some common sense exceptions. They are playing a game by saying the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has the right to issue exceptions, but the CPSC points out the law is very specific and, they feel, they are not entitled to issue exemptions.
Meanwhile, entire industries are suffering as a result of their incompetence. The youth motorsports industry finally won an reprieve from the CPSC, but one that does nothing to shield them from the civil lawsuits the CPSIA empowers. The trial lawyer sharks and state attorney generals are circling, smelling tobacco-settlement-style blood in the water.
Congress is Stupider
Americans are being inflicted with an out of control government that is feeding on itself, growing larger by the minute. Deficits, the cancer that eats your future, are large and destined to grow ever larger. After several decades of deregulation there is a rush to re-regulate, and judging by the nearly unanimous approval of the CPSIA by the incompetent morons in Congress, the regulations will strangle the economy.
Hey, I’ve got an idea: Since they have done so well with the CPSIA, let’s have the Congress tackle health care next!
