CPSC has posted request for input on crib standard

While saying that it is not officially starting the process on a new crib standard as required by the recently passed CPSIA, CPSC did post an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on a possible mandatory regulation. Comments are due by January 26, 2009. This ANPR and request for comments focuses mostly on dropside failures including design and hardware issues.

Illinois Senate passes lead labeling law!

SB 2860 (Hunter), which amends the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, passed the Illinois Senate unanimously today.

This legislation will protect Illinois’ children from lead by requiring that manufacturers include lead warning statements for painted toys, jewelry and children’s products intended to facilitate the feeding, sleeping or relaxation of children under six that that contain excess levels of lead.

Products with lead higher than the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested level of 40 parts per million (ppm) will be required to carry the warning label. The new federal law being implemented now requires lead levels of 90ppm for painted products (by August 09) and 600 ppm for jewelry and other children's products by February 09 (the level continues to drop to a possible 100ppm in 2011).

SB 2860 allows parents to avoid products with any detectable lead, even if it is below the federal limit.

Illinois Senate to consider lead labeling bill

SB 2860 (Hunter), which amends the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, will be voted on by the Illinois Senate as early as Wednesday, November 19.

This legislation would better protect Illinois’ children from lead by requiring that manufacturers include lead warning statements for painted toys, jewelry and children’s products intended to facilitate the feeding, sleeping or relaxation of children under six that that contain excess levels of lead.

The bill requires the warning when the amount of lead is higher than the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested highest level of 40 parts per million (ppm) but lower than the level allowed under the new federal law (currently 600 ppm, but drops to a low of 90 ppm).

SB 2860 allows parents to avoid products with any detectable lead, even if it is below the federal limit.

Contact your Senator and urge him/her to vote Yes on SB 2860!

Click here to find your elected representatives.

CPSC releases 2007 toy injury data

CPSC released their annual report on toy injuries and deaths today -- for 2007. The report shows 18 deaths from toys last year and 170,100 injuries to children under 15. The deaths were caused by drowning (six deaths - four from tricycles or other vehicles that fell into pools, one from an inflatable toy on a lake and one from a child falling in a pool after playing near it with a toy boat); choking or other airway obstruction (eight deaths -- four from choking on small balls, two from balloons, one suffocation on a stuffed toy and one aspiration of a rubber dart tip); and riding toys (two deaths involving non-motorized scooter collisions with cars, one tricycle collision with a car and one fall from a tricycle).

Many of the injuries involved riding toys and 84% of those involved non motorized scooters.

CPSC also released a statement giving toy purchasing advice to parents before the upcoming holiday season. They warn parents to check their products for recalled items and other safety issues. The new law requiring certification of safety testing for toys won't be in effect until next holiday season.

Illinois AG Madigan files suit against SFCA for selling deadly bassinets, publishes safety guide for parents on sleep environment recalls

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has again stepped up to the plate to protect Illinois consumers from dangerous children's products. This week her office filed a lawsuit against SFCA, the company that bought Simplicity for Children's assets. The lawsuit calls on SFCA to recall all faulty bassinets, reimburse retailers who have refunded consumers for the bassinets, publicize the recalls and institute a complete safety review of all Simplicity products still on the market.

Since 2005, Simplicity has recalled over 2.6 million cribs and bassinets for flaws that have led to at least six deaths. Most of those cribs and bassinets remain unaccounted for. The staff of Attorney General Madigan have been combing Craigslist for months, along with other online sites, for the recalled products and helping consumers participate in the recalls. Now, they have published Rest Assured, a guide to recent sleep environment recalls. This vital document should be placed in every pediatrician's waiting room, at child care facilities, hospitals and any other place new parents might see it.

KID joined with the AG's office at the press conference announcing the lawsuit and Rest Assured. In addition, we strongly support Attorney General Madigan's call for refunds as the only remedy in products that have already caused a death.