US govt, toy industry discuss voluntary testing

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The Consumer Product Safety Commission is holding ''aggressive'' talks with the toy industry to launch a voluntary testing program amid growing recalls of toys made in China, the agency said today.

Nancy Nord, acting chairman of the CPSC, said the agency was prodding the US toy industry to step up its safety checks.

''We've been having ongoing and rather aggressive conversations with the US toy industry about putting in place a program that would test toys before they are imported into the United States and I'm very hopeful that that program will be announced and implemented soon,'' Nord said.

She spoke at a news conference announcing Mattel Inc.'s voluntary recall of more than 9 million toys due to paint containing too much lead or small magnetic parts that can be swallowed by young children.

The US safety agency has been involved with seven recalls of Chinese-made toys for excessive lead levels since March. Lead paint has been linked to brain damage and other health problems in small children.

Nord also said she was seeking more legal power for her agency to safeguard toy imports.

''I have asked the US Congress for additional authority in this area so that toys coming into the United States can be certified as meeting US safety standards,'' Nord said.

US toy companies have a legal obligation to report any significant safety concerns to the CPSC.

''I have been having ongoing conversations with the toy industry to ramp up their testing in China. What I would like to see at the end of the day is a program where all toys made in China are tested before they are imported here,'' Nord said.

China is also trying to improve the safety of its exported toys, she added.

''We've been having a number of conversations with the Chinese government,'' Nord said. ''I am hopeful that as a result of those meetings we will have an agreement dealing with the four product areas I mentioned -- toys, electrical products, lighters, fireworks.'' In September, the US government will hold a product safety meeting with Chinese officials in Washington.

The CPSC has been sending technical staff to China for the past decade to help its manufacturers understand US safety requirements.

Nord also said there were no reports of children being injured from the latest batch of toys recalled by Mattel. They include about 1 million Doggie Daycare playsets, 680,000 Barbie tanning playsets and 350,000 Batman action figures, all of which have small magnetic parts that can be dislodged. The voluntary recall also includes 250,000 die-cast toys that may have lead paint.

''There is absolutely no excuse for lead to be found in toys entering this country. It is totally unacceptable and it needs to stop,'' Nord said. ''This agency is going to take whatever action it needs to take to address that problem aggressively.'' Earlier this month, a group of US senators asked the CPSC whether the United States should detain and inspect all painted children's products from China for lead levels. Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin has introduced legislation that would boost CPSC funding and let it levy civil penalties against retailers who knowingly sell a recalled product.

About 70 percent to 80 percent of toys sold in US stores are made in China, she said.

''It's logical to expect that if there are going to be problems, it's going to be with toys manufactured in China. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone,'' Nord said.

REUTERS RSA KP2337

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