October 3, 2009

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By Inez Tenenbaum

It’s not true.

Have you read news stories or heard from a friend that the government is going to start fining people who host yard sales or garage sales? It’s not true.

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Recently, news outlets have generated stories aimed at scaring hard-working, well-intentioned families about a new federal law that my agency, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has been working hard to use to build safer communities.

Here is a fact: in August 2008, it became illegal to resell a previously recalled product. This law is aimed at protecting you, the consumer. Stopping the resale of recalled products is supported by industry and consumer groups, and members of both parties of Congress. This law is aimed at making sure your local thrift store doesn’t pass along children’s outerwear with drawstrings that can pose a strangulation hazard or an online auctioneer doesn’t put toys with banned lead paint or defective cribs up for sale.

We are all about saving lives at CPSC, not bringing million dollar penalties against consumers or shutting down businesses. CPSC is committed to using this new child safety law to create a safer marketplace and a greater awareness of real hazards in the home and in the community.

As the former Superintendent of Education in South Carolina, education and advocacy for the well-being of children is a key focus of mine as the head of CPSC. In creating a nationwide resellers education campaign this summer, our goal at CPSC has been to inform everyone involved in buying and selling used products that there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent transactions that involve recalled or dangerous products. We encourage consumers to educate themselves about recalls and hazardous products by visiting www.CPSC.gov – it’s a good site to log on to before hosting a yard sale, creating an online auction, or taking some old products from the garage or attic to the local thrift store.

As a result of our efforts, we have heard many resellers say they wouldn’t want to do anything to put their customers in harm’s way and are checking our recall lists.

CPSC is not alone in this effort. eBay has been a longtime partner of the agency in taking steps to shut down auctions that involve previously recalled products. Goodwill, Salvation Army and the National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores have joined forces with us to open up their stores to CPSC staff, not to investigate or take enforcement actions, but to hold educational seminars. CPSC wants to keep businesses open and in compliance with the new child safety rules.

Consumers should also know that Congress has empowered CPSC and given us greater enforcement tools. I will see to it that CPSC uses these powers wisely, such as going after repeat offenders or companies that knowingly put children in harm’s way.

To be clear one more time, we will not be bringing fines against those who host yard sales or garage sales.

We are on the right path at CPSC – we are giving consumers, wherever they shop, more confidence in the safety of children’s products. I hope all of you will visit our Web site, sign up for our free recall alerts, and know that CPSC Stands For Safety.

Inez Tenenbaum
Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission