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Safe Toy Bill is Law: Hooray!
Healthy Child
Friday, August 01, 2008
The Safe Toy bill banning six phthalates passed in the Senate last night. The final tally: the House voted 424 to 1 and the Senate voted 89 to 3 to pass this historic piece of legislation. Not only does it set a precedent to act with precaution about chemicals children are exposed to in toys, this sweeping overhaul of the Consumer Product Safety Commission also:
- Virtually eliminates lead from products for children 12 and under (the toughest standards in the world);
- Doubles the agencies budget by 2014 and gives it more authority to oversee testing and enforce penalties on companies that violate safety compliance;
- Requires pre-market testing from unbiased laboratories to ensure compliance;
- Provides whistle-blower protection to staff who report potential hazards; and
- Requires the CPSC to set up a user-friendly database where government agencies, childcare providers, doctors, parents, or essentially anyone can report an injury, illness, death or risk related to products.
Industry lobbied hard against it (mostly Goliaths like Exxon and the American Chemistry Council), but the voice of the people was louder. Thanks to everyone who has been working so hard on this, from our federal champions in office, to the alliance of nonprofits across the nation. And, thanks to you and all the parents and people who called and emailed and simply made yourselves heard! Today is a day to celebrate!
Read more:
Senate Sends Sweeping Product-Safety Bill on to Bush
Senate Passes Ban on Phthalates and Lead in Toys
Congress Sends Consumer Safety Bill to Bush
Posted by natalie@greenzer.com on 08/07 at 01:04 PM
This is really exciting progress in the many battles consumers are have been waging with corporations for a long time. Companies are finally being forced to take accountability for the safety of their own products, and realize that having profits as a priority consumer well-being will only harm them in the long run.
I was equally excited to read on A Better Way to Clean (http://abetterwaytoclean.com/?p=80) that US regulators will have to prove a chemical is not harmful before it can enter the European market, meaning companies will have to find safer chemical alternatives if they want to keep doing business in Europe.
Both great steps toward more corporate accountability. I can only hope we see more of this!