Senate Leadership
January 24, 2008
Senate Democrats Take Aim at Dangerous Toys
Connecticut would become ninth state to pass Children’s Product Safety Act-banning the sale of recalled products and toys
Senator Williams speaks at a press conference at the Toy Chest in West Hartford where he announced the Senate Democrats’ plan to introduce legislation to put teeth behind recalls of children’s products, including toys. On his right is Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney; on his left is Senator Jonathan Harris. (January 24, 2008)
Senate President Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn) joined Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senator Jonathan Harris (D-West Hartford) and concerned parents at a news conference at the Toy Chest in West Hartford to announce the Children's Product Safety Act, which is being proposed for the upcoming legislative session.
The Act would do two things: ban the sale of recalled products- including toys and children's clothing--by any retailer; and require retailers to report to the Department of Consumer Protection how the products were disposed of. When it passes, Connecticut would be only the 9th state to ban the sale of recalled products. And, Connecticut would be the 1st 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%.
Children's products constitute more than half of all products recalled by the CPSC. In fiscal year 2002, the CPSC recalled 84 toys and other children's products, involving more than 11 million product units. In 2007, the CPSC recalled 111 products containing lead, involving more than 17 million units.
"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."
According to Kids in Danger, a national non-profit group, many states are currently considering the Children's Product Safety Act, an act that protects children from dangerous and recalled products on the state-wide level. This Act makes it illegal to sell or lease recalled or dangerous children's products or to use those products in licensed childcare facilities.
"A few other states have taken--or are taking--measures to protect their children and it is imperative that we join them as national leaders," said Senator Looney. "If we fail to do so, there could be a steady supply of recalled products from other states heading to our stores."
"With all their responsibilities and time constraints, parents are too busy to also keep up with the latest, growing list of toys from China that are really harmful to children," said Sen. Harris, who is co-chairman of the Human Services Committee. "This bill rightly puts the responsibility on the retailer to remove these products from their shelves. That not only gives parents the peace of mind that they need when they enter a toy store to do some shopping, but it serves larger groups like day care centers, which serve dozens of children." Connecticut needs to close these loopholes in its consumer safety and Child Protection Act laws. Ensuring that consumers-especially children-are safe from harmful products and making certain that recalled products that pose a health or safety risk do not end up on the open market for re-sale or distribution should be a high priority. Just as important, is ensuring that products that pose a hazardous waste risk do not end up as contaminants in our landfills and other waste streams.
Senate Democrats propose the following:
- Ban the sale of recalled products by any retailer or other business in the state.
- Require retailers and other businesses to report to the Department of Consumer Protection the type, make and model, quantity and the disposition of any recalled products. This Recall Final Disposition Report must include information related to how the items were disposed of: where the products were sent or returned to be destroyed or repaired. Retailers will be required to include a sworn statement in the report that the recalled products have not been sold or distributed to any other business entity for re-sale or distribution to the consumer market.
Connecticut's legislation will be modeled after Illinois's Children Product Safety Act, which represents some of the strongest children's product safety legislation in the country. According to Kids in Danger, in addition to the ban on selling recalled or dangerous children's products or using them in childcare, Illinois has added tough new reporting requirements. Now it is easier for parents in Illinois to learn about dangerous products, and the state is equipped to react quickly when it identifies potential hazards.
National contact:
Nancy A. Cowles, Executive Director
Kids In Danger
116 W. Illinois, Suite 5E
Chicago, IL 60610
www.KidsInDanger.org
312.595-0649
nancy@kidsindanger.org
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Senator Williams’ Derek Slap |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Derek Slap |
