Toxics & Public Health News

“It’s a shame that it took a lawsuit to ensure protection for our smallest consumers and their families,” said Brian Imus, Director of Illinois PIRG, in response to the $12 million multi-state settlement announced today between 39 Attorneys General, including Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Mattel, Inc., over lead-tainted toys. “But this settlement wins us three things: accountability from Mattel for their sloppy and dangerous ways, money to go toward public health, and more stringent standards for products to prevent anything like this from happening in the future.”

In addition to today’s agreement, proper implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is critical in preventing unsafe toys from ending up on store shelves in the first place.

The new law closes holes in the product safety net by banning toxic lead and phthalates from children’s toys, greatly improves the inspections of imported toys and gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission more tools to speed recalls of dangerous toys.

“Despite these new policies and actions required of Mattel in the lawsuit settlement to prevent tainted toys in the future, it is still buyer beware this holiday season,” said Imus. “Consumers can still find lead-laden children’s jewelry and lead painted toys on store shelves until the protections take effect next year.”

The announcement comes less than one month after Illinois PIRG released the 23rd annual toy safety report, Trouble in Toyland, (www.uspirg.org/reports) documenting the remaining dangers on toy shelves. As parents venture into crowded malls this holiday season, they should remain vigilant about often hidden hazards posed by toys on store shelves. The report provides safety guidelines for parents when purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

More information on toy safety is available at PIRG’s www.toysafety.net site