In 2007, more than 25 million toys were recalled due to the risks they posed to children because of high levels of lead paint or loose magnets that can cause severe internal damage in children.
Unfortunately, we weren’t surprised by the recent, massive recalls. Our annual toy safety report in 2007 uncovered four toys with lead levels ranging from 1.8 to 34 percent lead by weight.
But the recalls did have a silver lining—momentum for lasting reforms that would keep dangerous toys off the market has strengthened considerably.
Why So Many Recalls?
Unsafe toys made it to store shelves because toy manufacturers failed to ensure their own products’ safety. In part, that’s because the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on the behalf of our government routinely lets toy manufacturers off the hook.
Our government spends less on product safety than ever before, even as globalization has fundamentally changed the way that products get to store shelves.
For the past 30-plus years, NJPIRG advocates have been diligently working to stop the flood of unsafe toys onto store shelves and, ultimately, into our homes and our childrens’ hands.
We’ve even supplemented the CPSC inspectors by doing our own annual toy survey, which has led to more than 100 recalls and other enforcement actions.
“It’s not enough to find out about unsafe toys after they hit store shelves,” said Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski. “It’s a stop-gap arrangement at best.”
That’s why we have continued to push New Jersey’s congressional delegation to approve legislation to give the CPSC the funding and authority it needs to hold toy manufacturers accountable.
Toy Safety Bill In Congress
In November, the House and Senate introduced different versions of the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, which would lower the amount of lead allowed in products and increase the penalties that companies would be forced to pay if they break the rules. We’re working to make sure that both bills have the strongest provisions possible.
We released our 22nd annual toy safety report as parents began holiday shopping. Here in New Jersey, the story was picked up by 10 local newspapers and radio and television stations.
Toy manufacturers are already using their influence to push Congress to continue to allow voluntary standards with fewer penalties.
“When it comes to the safety of our products, it’s clear that voluntary measures just won’t be successful,” said NJPIRG Executive Director Allison Cairo. “We need more cops on the beat and a stronger CPSC so that toy manufacturers don’t repeat the same mistakes.”
