NewPush in Congress To Exempt Books from Lead-Ban Regulation
-- Library Journal, 04/06/2009
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) has introduced legislation that would exempt ordinary books from a regulation in the recently enacted Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which seeks to protect children from the dangers of lead. Implementation of CPSIA was put on hold for a year in February.
Responding to concerns from libraries in his district, Fortenberry has put forth a bill that would let CPSIA allow children’s books to remain on library shelves “for the benefit of millions of our youth.” See more from School Library Journal.The American Library Association is urging library advocates to ask their Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 1692.
Meanwhile, Publishers Weekly reports that, "for publishers of novelty and book-plus formats—which account for a significant chunk of sales, especially in mass-market and special-market channels—the CPSIA will remain in full force, with all of its costly testing, certification and labeling requirements."
