CPSC overhaul bill finalized, contains crucial consumer protections

The Conference Committee working on reconciling the House and Senate versions of a CPSC reform act have finalized their work and the final version contains many key consumer protections. It still needs to pass the House and Senate this week before the August recess.

The final bill, among other important provisions calls for:

• More funding and staff for CPSC
• A full commission at five members
• A process to set mandatory standards for 12 infant and toddler products including cribs, strollers, high chairs and more
• Integrating the voluntary ASTM F963 toy standard into mandatory standards
• Required third party testing and certification for children's products
• A ban on phthalates , chemicals which may cause cancer and damage reproductive organs
• Enforcement provisions for state attorneys general -- putting 50 more cops on the child safety beat
• protection for whistleblowers
• a ban on lead in children's products

And the list goes on. For more, check out this article from the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune also carried this article about Danny Keysar whose parents founded Kids In Danger and have worked over 10 years for these safeguards.