toy safety

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanne,

Last night the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform

Act, a very strong toy safety bill, by a vote of 79-13. The bill now has to

be reconciled with the weaker House bill, which passed unanimously in

December. You can count on us to work to make sure the best parts of both

bills are incorporated into the final version.

Generally, both bills will lower the limit of lead in toys, increase the

budget and staff of the CPSC, and grant it authority to issue rules and

penalize companies even when it lacks a quorum on the three-member

commission as it did this year. The Senate bill will also create a public

database of complaints, allow state attorneys general to act if they don't

think the federal government is doing enough, increase the maximum penalty

for violations from $1.25 to $20 million, and make it a crime for a company

to sell a product that has been recalled.

-For U.S. PIRG Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski's analysis, click

here.

-To read the Wall Street Journal article, click here.

News you don't want to toy with...

land House votes to curb lead in products

land would hire inspectors to enforce a ban on manufacturing, selling,

importing or distributing toys and other children's products containing

dangerous levels of lead under legislation that passed overwhelmingly

yesterday in the House of Delegates.

Florida Legislature considers Children's Toy Safety Act

The Florida Legislature also wants to do its part to keep dangerous toys off

store shelves. A bill in that state would require any toy manufacturer

wishing to sell its products in Florida to complete independent, third-party

testing to certify that its toys comply with standards set by the CPSC.

Time is running out for Washington State's toy-safety bill

After Washington State's Children's Safe Product Act passed 95-0 in the

Statehouse last month, it has stalled in the Senate. This bill would give

Washington the nations' strongest toy standards for lead, cadmium and

phthalates.

Anxious parents go organic, at a cost

After all the recalls of lead-tainted toys last year, parents are choosing

to err on the side of caution, even if it means paying more.

CPSC announces recall of toy similar to one in U.S. PIRG's " Trouble in

Toyland " report

The CPSC recalled the Godry/Family Dollar FUN 'N SAFE Magnetic Dart Board

set, but has not yet announced action on the Gordy/family Dollar " Fun 'N'

Games Magnetic Dart Board, " which was identified in our report.

Baby safety from the ground up

The CPSC issues its recommendations for baby safety.

The Recall Roundup (click here for a more complete list of recalled toys)

-Infantino Recalls Infant Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

-Girls' Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Rebelette

International Due to Strangulation Hazard

-Munire Furniture Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard

-Family Dollar Recalls Magnetic Dart Boards; Ingested Magnets Pose

Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

-Children's Metal Jewelry Recalled by Pecoware Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

-Children's Memory Testing Cards Recalled by Riverside Publishing Due to

Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Sincerely,

Peggy Lo

Toy Safety Online Organizer

PeggyL@...

http://www.toysafety.net

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail

with your family and friends.

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