State Senator Thomas A. Colapietro
March 6, 2008
Connecticut is One Step Closer to Bannning the Sale of Recalled Products and Toys
Children’s Product Safety Act-Proposed By Senate Democrats Passes Out of Committee and Onto Senate Floor
State Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) says Connecticut is one step closer to banning the sale of recalled products and toys, thanks to Senator Thomas Colapietro (D-Bristol) and members of the General Law Committee--who today approved the Children's Product Safety Act. The proposal now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by all members.
Senate Democrats announced the Children's Product Safety Act in January at a West Hartford toy store. The Act would do two things:
- Ban the sale of recalled products- including toys and children's clothing--by any retailer or business in the state.
- Require retailers to report to the Department of Consumer Protection how the products were disposed of.
"Each year dozens of children die and hundreds get sick from toys and products that should never be on the shelf," said Senator Williams. "Parents have a right to know that when they purchase something for their child, that toy or article of clothing is safe. Unfortunately, right now it's buyer--and children--beware in Connecticut."
When the Children's Product Safety Act is enacted, Connecticut would be only the ninth state to ban the sale of recalled products. And, Connecticut would be the first state in the nation to require that retailers report to the state how recalled products have been disposed of or taken out of the consumer marketplace.
Right now manufacturers are not required to test most children's products before putting them on the market. When recalls occur, they are almost always reported to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Council) voluntarily by the companies. The CPSC alerts the media of the recall, yet no further action is required to be taken to ensure the discontinued use of the product. This means that dangerous children's products can unknowingly be in homes, childcare facilities, or anywhere else children's products are used. Children's products are recalled on average twice a week.
A CPSC study found that 69% of resale and thrift stores in the nation were selling products that had been recalled, banned, or did not meet current safety standards. At the same time, return rates for recalled products are 16-18%.
|
Senator Colapietro’s |
Listing of Senator Colapietro’s recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
Press Aide Jaclyn Falkowski |
