Lead

Report Provides New Data, Analysis Showing How U.S. Toy Corporations’ Push to Send Production Offshore Boosted Profits at Price of Children’s Safety

Dec. 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Although China and inadequate U.S. safety systems are often blamed, U.S. toy corporations’ decisions to shift production to countries without adequate safety systems – and trade policies companies pushed through Congress that limit import safety standards and inspection – are the root causes of the imported toy safety crisis, according to a report released today by Public Citizen.    » read more »

Statement of Joan Claybrook, President of Public Citizen

Dec. 18, 2007 -- Parents and consumers are facing another holiday crisis regarding the safety of children’s toys and other consumer products. Judging from what lawmakers did today, it might not be the last.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Soldier Bear Toys

Units: About 11,400

Importer/Retailer: AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service), of Dallas, TX

Manufacturer: First Learning Company Ltd, of Hong Kong (wooden toys)

Manufacturer: Toy World Group Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong (military vehicle toy play set)    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Giant Measuring Chart

Units: About 13,000

Manufacturer: Discount School Supply, of Monterey, Calif.

Hazard: The paint on the grow chart contains excess levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch and The Honorable Kurt L. Schmoke, a member of the Board of the Children’s Health Forum, Washington, DC, today announced that a total of $1.2 million is being awarded to six local agencies to conduct statewide community-based outreach, education, and training related to lead poisoning prevention in Rhode Island.

The announcement was made at an 11 AM press conference at Saint Joseph Hospital for Special Care, Peace Street, Providence. Saint Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island is one of the organizations sharing in the funding.    » read more »

December 19 2007 -- Jackson, MS - Throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time, parents are concerned about the safety of the toys their children are playing with. As a father of three, as well as Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, Jim Hood shares the same concerns and is joining 34 other Attorneys General in urging Congress to support legislation that strengthens federal standards on lead contaminated toys and other products and grants authority to state attorneys general to enforce these federal regulations.    » read more »

Unveils Plan to Strengthen Consumer Product Safety Commission

December 15, 2007 -- Des Moines, IA -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama today held a press conference in Waterloo to discuss his commitment to protecting America's children from lead-based products. Since the U.S. government ratified permanent normalized trade relations (PNTR) with China, Chinese consumer products have flooded the U.S. market.    » read more »

December 14, 2007 -- Chicago – On the heels of her Dec. 3, 2007, announcement concerning red blood pressure cuffs found in Fisher-Price toy medical kits, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today warned consumers of a similar toy that presents a potential lead poisoning hazard—the green blood pressure cuff found in Sesame Street Giggle Fisher-Price toy medical kits. Madigan urges parents to take away the green blood pressure cuff toys from their children immediately.    » read more »

Statement of Joan Claybrook, President of Public Citizen

Dec. 13, 2007 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee today failed parents and children all over America. Given the chance to greatly improve the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, committee members bowed to pressure from industry lobbyists. The committee’s draft of the bill (H.R. 4040) falls woefully short in at least eight key areas. The bill:    » read more »

December 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Baby Toys Baby Bead & Wire Toys and Speed Racer Pull Back & Go Action! Cars

Units: About 300,000

Importer: Greenbrier International Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.

Hazard: The recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.    » read more »

December 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Codeena Princess Children’s Metal Jewlery

Units: About 1,000

Importer: Codee International, of Northvale, N.J.

Hazard: The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.    » read more »

Expresses support for congressional consumer product safety measure, warns parents of toy risks

December 13, 2007 -- AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott this week urged Congress to protect children by passing H.R. 4040, a proposed federal statute that would lower acceptable lead levels in toys and improve oversight across the industry. Several U.S. toy manufacturers issued voluntary recalls of their toys recently due to potential lead-related dangers.    » read more »

“SINDOOR” found to contain extremely high levels of lead

December 13, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois state public health director, is warning consumers not to use a recalled product called “SWAD. SINDOOR. Best Taste in Town,” an orange or red powder used in some traditional Middle Eastern ceremonies that is applied to the face or scalp.    » read more »

December 12, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fishing Games

Units: About 14,000

Importer/Distributor: Far East Brokers and Consultants Inc., of Jacksonville, Fla.

Hazard: The recalled game has parts that contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

December 12, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Horseshoe Magnets

Units: About 153,000

Importer: United Scientific, of Waukegan, Ill.

Hazard: Surface paint on the magnets contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standards.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »