Letter to Nancy A. Nord, Acting Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Letter

Letter to Nancy A. Nord, Acting Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

DeLauro Calls for Improved Toy Safety Regulations

Questions Consumer Product Safety Commission & Toy Companies on Efforts to Strengthen Toy Safety

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."

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

Source