Jon Pettyjohn on sun 21 jun 98
Hello,
I sent a crate of pots from here in Manila recently to a gallery
in Japan (through a shipping brokerage, which charges by
volume rather than weight, definetely cheaper than air freight)
and I just received a fax from the gallery that they would have
to pay a 500$ U.S. fee for "lead release testing". Seems like this
might be something new and I'm wondering if anyone in North America
has run into this. Sounds a little expensive to me it and will have
a very unfavorable affect on the pricing of the work there.
I offered to split the the testing fee with the gallery in the hope
of preserving good relations with the gallery, but this fee really
seems unfair, given that in Japan there is no concern about lead
content and many traditional wares like Raku and overglazed
porcelains would not pass this kind of testing. The work I sent was
all high fired stoneware and porcelain (and declared so), which
anyone should know doesn't use lead.
Does anyone know how much similar tests might cost if shipping
to North America and if they're required? Have to suspect that these
kind of regulations have to do with trade wars and tariff disputes,
sure hate to get caught in the middle, we're such a small country
and I'm just trying to sell a few pots.
Jon Pettyjohn
Manila, Philippines
jon@mozcom.com
Lee Love on sat 11 jul 98
From: Jon Pettyjohn :
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
to pay a 500$ U.S. fee for "lead release testing". Seems like this
might be something new and I'm wondering if anyone in North America has run
into this. Sounds a little expensive to me it and will have a very
unfavorable affect on the pricing of the work there.
---------------- End Original Message --------------
Jon,
I was in a show in Nikko, Japan this spring organized by Warren
MacKenzie and all the potters participating (12 besides Mac) sent the
recipes of their glazes and photos of their pots with the shipment.
Warren said that the recipes were to avoid costs and delays for testing.
I believe all the work was highfire and none of the work used lead or other
hazardous materials in the clay or glazes.
The work was sent through a packing and shipping company. I
wonder if the glaze formulas would have helped your situation?
/(o\' Lee In Saint Paul, Minnesota USA
\o)/' mailto:Ikiru@Kami.com ' http://www.millcomm.com/~leelove/
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