Overlawyered has a long list of links for people talking and reporting on the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which went into effect this week. Even though some of this may be overreaction, congress and the commission are responsible for the confusion. Here’s part of a press release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, issued last month. I hope this is accurate, not some kind of doublespeak:

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

More “guidance” from the commission is here.