The managing director of a soon-to-be launched craft manufacturing business is concerned that a new law to be implemented by the United States may have implications for the craft industry in Dominica and the Caribbean, claiming that it will “shut down” the craft industry.
Steven Dailey, owner of Din Chel Craft and Souvenirs, told Dominica News Online that according to research, the new legislation will require the monitoring and testing of all children’s toys and handmade items for lead and other harmful substances, being imported into the US.
Dailey said that he is very concerned that a lack of testing equipment here will cause a downfall of the craft industry since goods must be tested before they enter the US. Dailey is also concerned about the cost of obtaining these testing materials.
“The cost of testing and certification could have a devastating effect on the Craft Industry for local manufacturers and exporters in the region. The law actually targets the big countries, like Asia and the big companies. But it has extended technically, because although they speak about Asia and Latin America…it will affect every single craft manufacturer and even purchases of books,” Dailey said.
He raised concern over the high price of testing the crafts as well.
“I think it will shut down the craft industry around the entire region. We will need to have those standards because we will not be able to export. When the tourists come down to buy because of their awareness of that law, the first thing they will want to certify is if you have any certification for it. I have heard that it is going to be very costly to do the testing. Some of our crafts will be rejected,” Dailey presumed.
Dailey stated that the law covers items like salad bowls, key rings which he also makes, jewellery, beads, pens along with other household implements. He said that though he uses wood to manufacture his products he uses paint, which has to be tested.
“Once you put a finish on it they deemed that it has to be tested. Whether it is vanished or oiled or any other substance they are looking for harmful substances,” he added.
A main issue for him is finding out how to become certified and standardized in accordance to the law.
He advises Dominica and other Caribbean countries to get their act together.
“The other concern that I have is that some of the products that we have here are coming from the Chinese, and some the Chinese stuff have some lead in them, and some of the products that our craft makers here will be selling on the boulevard to the tourists may have these parts of Chinese products,” the St Mary’s Academy Teacher said.
“If they sell a little bowl with the Chinese stuff with some lead paint in it and it goes up there they detect that the lead comes from that bowl, what happens to our products?” Dailey asked.
Dailey claimed through research he made a discovery, which implies that books manufactured before 1970 contains a chemical that contains a high level of lead in it.
Meanwhile, the head of the Dominica Bureau of Standards would not speak to DNO on the matter without having sufficient information on the new law.
HERMISHA ROLLE, STAFF REPORTER.
That is absolute nonesense. The Bureau of Standards is not responsible for making sure that consumers in Dominica are protected. They are not responsible for making sure that Dominica’s exports meet international marketing standards. That initially is the job of the exporter and additionally that of Dexia.
Their job is to make sure that information is available about international marketing standards which our exporters have to comply with.
Making sure that the paint used to create crafts is heavy metal free (yes there are other issues other than lead!!!) is the responsibility of the person manufacturing the end product.
Now you may also argue that it is the Enviromnmental health department’s job to make sure that any paint products used in Dominica is safe. That is because you have to protect both the health of our children and that of the environment into which paint can easily leach. It is not unknown for painters to pour their material into the drains.
I am amazed at the responses, and I often think DNO should shut down the comments because ppl are more anxious to comment than to read. The story clearly indicated that, “A main issue for him (Mr. Dailey” is finding out how to become certified and standardized in accordance to the law. He advises Dominica and other Caribbean countries to get their act together.” He is NOT crying and begging the US anyone else. He is concerned because he does not think that we are prepared!
If you read the last paragraph of the story, it also says that the BUREAU OF STANDARDS, which, technically, should be responsible for certifying producers and products, was not confident to speak on the issue because they were not sufficiently informed. KUDOS to Mr. Dailey for BEING PRO-ACTIVE in seeking to be prepared, and for BRINGING THE ISSUE TO THE FORE.
READ BEFORE YOU COMMENT!
On a point of clarification for those who are less aware. Winston Warrington made a connection between peeling paint and lead. Lead is added to paint as a cheap pigment. The funtion of the pigment is to provide colour. The resin is where the intergrity of the paint lies. There are many reasons why paints peel. I will not get into that in this forum. To make the connection between the lead content of paing and film intefgrety is misleading.
The Dominica Bureau of standards is there to protect the interests of Dominicans, a job which they have woefully failed to do. I have regularly visited their so called website and it has little information on it, is out of date and is in a constant state of disrepair.
I tried to find out exactly what it is that these people do with no avail even to the point of offering my personal assistance for free to assist them in developing a trading standard in Dominica. Deaf ears.
I am not surprised that they have offered no comment on this very important issue.
The Bureau of standards is supposed to be a consumer protection organisation. It is not an export board. That job belongs to Dexia…
What we really need is to establish a small business bureau to assist these people to maximise their export income.
One of the writers was correct in saying that we import all kind of rubbish without question and poison ourselves and our children everyday and wonder why our people are dying of diseases which were virtually unknown only a few years ago.
We need to go to the next level as the p.m said, and we have to start with our selves.
c’est sa la vie and bigman what is in your heads? what is china buying from us?america is not forcing you to buy their goods.america addressed that with china,now china is using us to continue their shit, so america is doing what she have to do.so is up to you ok.futhermore the most of the goods you buy from america,’ say made in china,but they are tested.but what you get from china is not tested.
check that out.
Dominicans can be objective on occasion, and I am proud of the contributions on this topic. It has been proven that the successes of modern nations are due to three major human resources – education, technical application and hope. We need to take note.
Lead paint is a hazard. And if we look around Roseau at the poorly maintained (particularly wooden) buildings, the peeling paint, characteristic of high lead content, disposes its poison unto unfortunate children, the effect of which is not diagnosed until learning problems manifest at a critical age. We must clean that up, regardless of cost; ditto for asbestos.
We have created a National Bureau of Standards, the purpose of which is to enable local producers to compete globally by being informed of existing and expected quality of goods presented to the world market place. Whereas we have accepted without repent, the over-salted and cancer causing foods from Australia, New Zealand, South America,for many years, we still have the right to protect our population through our National Bureau of Standards by selectively importing products that are less harmful to the national health.
In fine, let us exorcise ourselves of the persecution complex that afflicts us whenever our efforts appear to be temporarily stalled. Technical innovation is the product of functional education and with hope provides the fuel for national progress.
Products with lead based paint cause harm not only to American citizens, but Dominicans as well. While I do understand the business concern, we should not ignore the potentially harmful effects that lead has on the health of people irrespective of their geographic location. Purchase the necessary equipment and ban the use of lead based paint in items manufactured in Dominican products.
The nature of progress; if all men had believed that there could be no better way of doing things, ” the horse, and buggy probably would not have passed so rapidly.
The great majority of innovation in this modern world, did not happen accidentally, however, rather as a result of man’s ingenuity, his curious nature and his constant search for improvement.
When an improvement is made, it marks its creator as a person of imagination, and honest endeavor. History indicates that the person who leaves an indelible mark of progress of his own, gives something new to others who, in turn continue to innovate, and that’s how technology accelerated throughout history.
It also indicates some important innovations and milestones that were experienced during this process of change.
Now, here we find that old ” ‘Dominica mentality’ ” at work again: crying before even making an effort to get ready to deal with the situation when it arises. If Steven Daily was concern that he and the rest would lose business because of some type of equipment to be use in the testing of their products, he should get ready for the changes, thus he will be in a position to deal whatever develops.
In stead it seems to me he is ready to crawl, seeking sympathy from the Government of the United States.
Well, it does not work that way here!
In this country there is something called: ” Quality Assurance” which is sometimes referred to as Quality Control.
In the Manufacturing Business in the United States, Canada, and Europe, nothing leaves a place of manufacture without going through some sort of quality control inspection.
I do not know if you produce metal products, however, if your toys are made from calved wood, and painted, all you may have to ensure is that the product you produced is not tainted with lead, and in that case a simple reagent might serve the purpose for testing.
Then again the task of verifying the accuracy of products made to some high standards of quality, in turn, are difficult problems with which quality organizations cope. As new equipment is developed that will produce products of high accuracy and precision, inspection, and test equipments must be fabricated that will prove the accuracy of your products.
I am aware that the task of inspection are frequently complicated by a requirement to measure and test certain parts, and products under closely controlled conditions, however, that’s the nature of the beast, that is the price people pay to remain in business, and manufacture quality products.
If one desires to sell their products on the international market, their products should meet international standards.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Mr. Dailey all u have to do is get a bank loan and improve your equipment. Meet the standards and go out and find new markets. Stop the blame game and be proactive to international standards.
This has nothing to do with the USA policies they are just trying to protect their ciitizens ,it’s up to the Government of DOMINICA and the others in the region to come up with the equipment so the manufactures can test their products before shiping them over sea. It wouldn’t be good for business if they were rejected and returned because we fail to do or own testing, think of the lost of revenues each Owner would incur , we also owe it to the tourists who purchase those souvenirs.
I am sure the Manufactures and we the people of DOMINICA would like to see the Bureau of Standard begin to move on this issue as soon as possible.
People. Let us realise that this new initiative is the word of the american majority, and by extension their democracy in action. If anyone has payed attention to the international media. There have been several incidences where the US had fallen prey to shady manufacturing practices of predominantly Chinese companies. There were several situations where for years toys and other items containing high levels of toxic substances were being imported. These issues were discovered and this prompted media coverage, which resulted in the US people asking for their government to protect them. Which is what a government is elected to do. “Work in the the interest of the people”. We cannot blame the US for protecting it’s citizens and residents. The proposed law has to cover all countries or astute businesses will simply circumvent the system by doing exactly what Mr. Dailey has highlighted. i.e.. they will sell products through other nations worldwide in an attempt to bypass specific sanctions directed at “their” businesses. That is how smart business is ran. Exploit the loop holes in the interest of protecting the BOTTOM LINE. When loop holes are exploited, then it becomes fiscally acceptable to change. There is little we can do to avoid being hit, and to the comment that we should not buy their products…It is a supply and demand equation. We have a demand and the US has the most well subsidized industries, which promotes a much cheaper supply chain. We have to be willing to accept a much higher cost associated to food products, if we decide to boycott US items. These are the facts. Ultimately, I implore our crafts industry to band together in an attempt to find some form of cooperative solution to this unavoidable added cost. “YOU” may need to negotiate with the ministries as a collective industry to have the goverment make the purchase initially, with a unified agreement that there will be an added tax to arts and crafts goods sold for export, which will be put towards principal repayment of loans and regular maintenance of the testing equipment. I am no politician and this is just my opinion. But, note that we have to work together in order to avoid loosing another vital artery of our export industries.
Don’t blame the US for that one. They are only trying to protect their citizens, as every responsible government should. The Chinese are poisoning the world with the junk. It is time there were standards in place to rid the world of the items that are coated with toxic substances.
Perhaps the government should implement legislation that forbids the importation of these items into the country. The importer would then require the manufacturer to certify that the products are lead or heavy metal free. That way the certification can flow through to the craftsmen.
I have worked for a company where we coat metal with paints. We have stopped using lead containing paints for years. Whenever any of our products are going to go anywhere near children, we are extra careful because children tend to put all kinds of stuff in their mouths.
But the Chinese will sell gramoxone to their parents and tell them it is milk.
I understand your situation Mr. Dailey, But i would like to think that lead based paint is of concern to Dominica as well and the rest of the Caribbean and there should be no doubt that product coming from our region are free of dangerous chemicals.
It is known that these substances (lead) are dangerous to our health especially children and it should not only be a concern for America.
If the Americans do not want to buy our products then we should get other markets. Venezuela, China, etc. afterall we get the paints from China they should buy our art and Craft so we become less dependent on “America”.
I think the main concern should be the safety and quality of our product. Make sure your raw materials are approved for use so your product will be ok and you will not have to lose your market. All these are the result of Globalization so we have to keep up.
Some many years of existence bureau of standard is like a sheep drafting in the ocean and yet to fulfill its legal mandate ot its clients in a fast growing commercial world
But all Dominicans wanted Barack Hussein Obama for President.
Democrats, worst party in the world
Is so de US stay. And we have to eat old … and US snacks and tin food without testing all those cancer agents they carry.
It’s really time we in the region unite and form our own block. Time to keep out the US when it comes to certain things because we do as if everything US is good and everything local is bad.
At the end they only protect their interests, and while they destroy our craft industry we continue to import all their clothes, toys, nintendos, phones etc, right? C’est sa la vie.