New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide
Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign.
The "Resale Round-up," launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, enforces new limits on lead in children's products and makes it illegal to sell any items that don't meet those limits or have been recalled for any other reason.
The strict standards were set in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
The standards were originally interpreted to apply only to new products, but now the CPSC says they apply to used items as well.
"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."
In order to comply, stores, flea markets, charities and individuals selling used goods — in person or online — are expected to consult the commission's 24-page Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Resellers and its Web site for a breakdown of what they can't sell.
本报讯 美国消费者产品安全委员会(CPSC)发起“围剿转售品”运动，在车房拍卖（Garage Sale）或跳蚤市场（Flea Market）出售这些物品的人，可能被罚款高达1500万元。图为CPSC官员介召回产品。
9月18日，福斯新闻指出，美国政府厉行新政策，将使在车房拍卖或跳蚤市场以一块钱出售旧货的人，可能惹上高达1500万元的罚款。消费者产品安全委员会(CPSC)发起“围剿转售品”运动，对儿童产品的含铅量施行新的限制，把出售不符合这些限制或 因任何理由被召回的物品视为非法行为。
这些严格标准是中国制造的玩具接连被召回后，在去年制定的消费者安全产品改进法规定的，原来是针对新产品，可是CPSC现在宣称这些标准也适用于旧货。亲自或在网络上出售旧货的商店、跳蚤市场、慈善组织和个人，可以参考CPSC拟定的24页《转售产品手册》或相关网站浏览，以了解有哪些东西不能卖。被逮到出售任何违规货品，每次最高罚款10万元，累犯不改者最高罚款1500万元。
CPSC说，这些罚款是针对严重违规的大公司。发言人说：“CPSC成立30年来一直利用罚款力量对付企业。CPSC无意对付举办车房或庭园拍卖的人，只是鼓励他们采取正确步骤不要转售被召回的产品。”但是，法律人士认为，法律并未对家庭和小转售商加以区分，现在举办车房拍卖的人大多财力有限，因此对他们罚款是在扰民，而且几乎没有人知道有这种法律。
《消费者报导》杂志产品安全主管Don Mays说，施行重罚才有吓阻作用。他说，以前的民事罚款最高只有187万元，对吓阻公然违法的大公司没什么用，例如马特尔 (Mattel)玩具公司及旗下的Fisher-Price公司，最近就因进口大约200万个违反CPSC禁止含铅规定的玩具，只支付230万元罚款。
CPSC的网站http://www.cpsc.gov/ ， 希望华人社区有关人士多加浏览，防止触法。
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