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Toy Safety

 

What's New

Signed Sealed Delivered: Safer Toys, Safer Kids

On August 14, President Bush signed a law that overhauls the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  The bi-partisan Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 will make consumer products safer by requiring that toys and infant products are tested before they are sold, and by banning toxic chemicals like lead and phthalates in toys. The bill also will create the first comprehensive publicly accessible consumer complaint database, give the CPSC the resources and authority it needs to protect the public, increase civil penalties that CPSC can assess against violators of product safety laws, and  protect whistleblowers who report product safety defects.

Read the ABC News story about the bill.

Click here for our coalition release.

Click here for a copy of the bill.

For regular updates, read the blog at static.uspirg.org/consumer.



How You Can Help

If you suspect you have a toxic dangerous toy or any unsafe product (coffeemaker, lawn mower, etc), report the incident to the CPSC either online at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html or over the phone at Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Send a copy to us at info@uspirg.org.



Overview

While most toys on store shelves are safe, we continue to find toys that pose a range of safety hazards to small children. As a result, parents and other child-care providers need to remain vigilant in order to prevent toy-related deaths and injuries.

Recently, U.S. PIRG broadened the scope of unsafe toys to include toys labeled as phthalate-free. Our analysis last year shows that even some products labeled phthalate-free contain the dangerous chemical.

Toy manufacturers should act swiftly to recall unsafe products and give parents the information they need to allow them to purchase safe toys for their children. U.S. PIRG and our allies have prompted recalls or regulatory action on over 100 toys.



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U.S. PIRG research has prompted over 100 recalls or regulatory actions to address unsafe toys.

 

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