Product safety

May 22, 2008 -- 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.

American Scientific Recalls 87,000 Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Magnets

Units: About 87,000

Importer: American Scientific LLC, of Columbus, Ohio

Hazard: Surface paint on the magnets can contain high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- 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.

Floppy Friends Horse Toys Recalled by Toy Investments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Floppy Friends Horse Toys

Units: About 300

Importer: Toy Investments Inc., d/b/a Toysmith, of Auburn, Wash.

Hazard: Surface paint on the toy horse contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak often on the issue of gun crimes. To date, he has made 274 Senate speeches on gun crimes since 1999; his remarks follow:

Children with gun: Photo by j.r.trauben (CC)    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today celebrated the signing of LD 2048, "An Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products.” The Governor commended House Majority Leader Representative Hannah Pingree for her continued leadership in the area consumer product safety.

“Thanks to the partnership developed between the Administration, our Legislative leadership and dedicated advocates, Maine is a leader in protecting our children from harmful chemicals,” said Governor Baldacci.

The Governor said that encouraging the use of safer chemicals that provide increased protection to human health and the environment supports innovation and economic opportunity.    » read more »

Record-Breaking Agreement Requires Company to Submit Ads to FDA Prior to Airing

May 20, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a landmark financial settlement with Merck and Company, Inc., that also requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to submit television drug advertisements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review before their broadcast.    » read more »

Boise – The State of Idaho will receive more than $1.1 million as a result of a consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc., Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced today. Wasden’s office filed a consent judgment resolving a three-year investigation by 30 states concerning the company’s deceptive promotion of the drug Vioxx.

The judgment, filed Tuesday in Fourth District Court in Ada County, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to deceptively promote any Merck product.    » read more »

Company was under investigation for marketing of anti-inflammatory drug

May 20, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today filed a stipulated consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc. resolving a three-year investigation that targeted the company’s promotion of the prescription drug Vioxx.

Merck Vioxx

The agreement provides $58 million to the 30 participating states, of which Florida’s share will be more than $3.5 million. The judgment, filed today in the Broward County Circuit Court and pending court approval, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to promote any Merck product in a manner that may be deceptive.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- SAN DIEGO -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a “groundbreaking settlement” with Merck & Co. which requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to obtain Federal Drug Administration approval before running any television drug advertisements for new pain medications.

“Merck’s aggressive television advertising convinced hundreds of thousands of consumers to seek Vioxx prescriptions before the drug’s risk were fully understood,” Attorney General Brown said. “Today’s groundbreaking settlement prevents Merck from releasing new television drug advertisements without obtaining federal approval.”    » read more »

'Kids Safe Chemical Act' Would Ensure All Chemicals Used In Every Day Products, Including Those Used in Baby Bottles and Children's Toys, Are Proven Safe

May 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced major legislation to protect Americans, especially children, from toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.

Baby with bottle: Photo by Frank Tellez (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a rule closing a loophole in current law that can result in animals that are too sick to stand entering the food supply.

Cattle at sunset: Photo by Brad Smith (CC)    » read more »

Strengthens Consumer Notifications; Requires Warning Labels for Toys Containing Lead, Magnets and Liquids

May 13, 2008 -- New York Governor Paterson today announced the submission of legislation to keep dangerous toys and other products out of children’s hands.

Galison/Mudpuppy Wire Bound Journals and Calendars Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

The “Children’s Product Safety and Recall Effectiveness Act of 2008” will protect New York children from unsafe toys and durable juvenile products (such as cribs, car seats, high chairs, playpens or other similar items) that may be available to consumers even after they have been recalled.    » read more »

April 24, 2008 --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.

CPSC Recall Alert: Waxcessories Recalls Electric Simmer Pots

Name of Product: Electric Simmer Pots

Units: About 830,000

Importer: Waxcessories® Inc., of Dracut, Mass.

Hazard: The simmer pots have wire connections that can become loose, posing a risk of fire and electric shock to consumers.    » read more »

Tainted Heparin Linked To 81 Deaths; Blood Thinner Originating From China Contained Deadly Contaminant

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation this week establishing a modern track-and-trace system for all prescription drugs sold in the United States, a move he said would cut down on the contamination of popular patient medicines like the embattled blood thinner, heparin.

Heparin syringe: Photo by flaviab (CC)    » read more »

April 18 , 2008 -- Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced her office alerted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to dangerous lead levels detected in hip-charm keychains manufactured exclusively for Wal-Mart stores. As a result, the CPSC and Wal-Mart issued a recall this morning, and the company has removed the product from store shelves.

Attorney General Madigan urged parents to take away the “No Boundaries Hip Charm” keychain from their children immediately. Consumers can call 1-800-WAL-MART for additional information, including instructions on how to obtain a refund.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- 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.

Push Toys Recalled by Santa’s Toy Corp. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Western Rider Push Toys

Units: About 9,000

Importer: Santa’s Toy Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the glove, shirt, and pants of rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »