DeLauro Calls for Improved Toy Safety Regulations

 Questions Consumer Product Safety Commission &

 Toy Companies on Efforts to Strengthen Toy Safety

Washington , D.C. –Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) sought answers on how the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel, as well as other toy companies, will strengthen toy safety regulations to ensure the safety of the toys with which our children play.  The two letters were sent to CSPC Chairman Nancy Nord and Mattel Chairman and CEO Robert A. Eckert following the expansion of the Mattel 1.5 million toy recall to an additional 436,000 toys because of lead-based paint contamination.  Similar letters will also be sent to other toy companies that do business with the Chinese toy maker identified as the source of some of the lead-tainted toys.

“With multiple toy recalls because of lead-based paint contamination, it is incumbent upon the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel, in addition to the other toy manufacturers, take steps to ensure that harmful products never reach our children. They must begin extensive examinations into their current process to identify the weaknesses and devise a product safety system that truly prioritizes the safety and well-being of our children.  That includes setting standards for vendors to ensure the safety of all components and ingredients used in the production of toys,” said DeLauro.

“With a multitude of products and ingredients made in China being recalled over the past months, we cannot rely on the Chinese to strengthen their safety regulations and must implement precautionary measures here.  Simultaneously, we need to work with China to strengthen their safety regulations, as they have a responsibility to act if they want to be considered an adequate trading partner.  Trade cannot trump public health.”

Click here to view the letter sent to the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Click here to view the letter sent to Mattel, Inc.

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Below is the text of the two letters. 

 

August 17, 2007

 

The Honorable Nancy A. Nord

Acting Chairman

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East West Highway

Bethesda , MD 20814

Dear Chairman Nord:

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent series of defective products manufactured in China and also to seek answers to some key questions on behalf of the American consumer and families. 

Just this week, Mattel, the world’s biggest toymaker, announced that its latest recall because of lead-based paint contamination of 1.5 million toys has been expanded by approximately 436,000 total lead-contaminated toys, 253,000 of which are in the United States .  Moreover, in the last few months we have seen the recall of nearly 1 million units of popular Fisher-Price toys (including popular Elmo, Ernie, and Dora the Explorer figurines) and 1.5 million units of Thomas & Friends trains and accessories—all because of lead paint. 

Given there have been 44 toy recalls this year, these latest recalls merely highlight the need for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to institute more stringent product safety requirements for imported products.  Even more so considering a disproportionate amount of these products are being manufactured in China —where safety precautions are basically non-existent. 

Although I am disappointed at the length of time it has taken your agency to pursue serious discussions to bolster product safety regulations, I am pleased to hear that you are working with the Toy Industry Association to make safety testing mandatory for all toy products.  I ask that you share the developments of these deliberations, and in addition, I would appreciate responses to the following questions:

·        Why has it taken this long to pursue a requirement for toy safety testing? 

·        What are the details of this requirement?

·        Being cognizant of the different vendors involved with producing any one toy, will safety standards extend to all of the components and ingredients used?

Furthermore, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I was proud to increase funding for the CPSC in the Financial Services Appropriations bill that recently passed the House.  As you know, the legislation includes $66.8 million for FY 2008, which is $4.11 above last year’s allocation and $3.588 more than the president’s budget request.  In what ways will your agency use this nearly 7 percent increase in funding to strengthen product safety? 

Like you, I believe that safety should always be a number one priority.  We need to be able to trust the safety of the toys in the hands of our children.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to your response. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rosa L. DeLauro

Member of Congress

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August 17, 2007

 

Robert A. Eckert

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Mattel, Inc.

333 Continental Boulevard

El Segundo , CA 90245

Dear Mr. Eckert:

I am writing to express my concerns regarding your company’s recent recall of toys imported from China found to have been contaminated with lead-paint as well as to seek answers to some key questions on behalf of the American consumer and families

As the recall of 1.5 million toys is expanded by approximately 436,000 total lead-contaminated toys, 253,000 of which are in the U.S. , it is critical that Mattel take every effort to prevent these unsafe toys from getting in the hands of our country’s children. 

While I appreciate your instituting new procedures, I am asking you to start by taking full responsibility for your operations, including all your subcontractors and their vendors.  New procedures will not work without a new attitude. 

For the future, you must re-examine your own product safety monitoring system to require all vendors that you contract with to incorporate product safety testing regimes that ensure the safety of their children.  It is also critical that you work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop a long-term solution.

Additionally, recent news reports have maintained that one of your European retail partners noticed lead paint on some of its toys in July.  In response, you began an extensive investigation of the toys in your distribution chain and of the contract manufacturers that produce half of the toys.  Taking this into consideration, I would appreciate responses to the following questions to help shed light on why these lead-contaminated toys were not discovered earlier and on actions your company is taking to prevent future recalls:

·        What were the results of July’s extensive investigation? 

·        Do you plan to share them?

·        How come the Consumer Product Safety Commission was not informed of these results?

·        Are there any future investigations in your plans?

·        Do you think the trade agreements that we currently operate under need to take account of a breakdown like we are seeing in    China ?

Since 65 percent of your toys are being made in China , it is especially important that you set new policies that make inspecting every imported product for safety as standard practice.  Being cognizant of the different vendors involved with producing any one toy, these safety standards should also extend to all of the components and ingredients used and in doing so, families can be assured of the safety of their children’s toys.  We can not afford to simply wait for China to take action.  Instead, I ask you to address the problem proactively so that harmful products never reach our store shelves.

Like you, I believe that the safety of children should always be a number one priority.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,

Rosa L. DeLauro

Member of Congress