Legal News

Makers of toys and cribs now have more time to comply with new laws regulating lead testing and certification of their products.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 4 to 1 to extend the stay of enforcement for testing and certification of lead content in children's products until December 31, 2011, says a CPSC news release.

In 2007, millions of toys and children?s products, mostly from China, were pulled from store shelves because they contained lead paint which is known to cause lead poisoning, among other hazards. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and gave the CPSC more money and authority.

Now, manufacturers of toys and other children?s products are pushing to quash new safety regulations that they say are unfair or too onerous.

Manufacturers of toys and other children's products are trying to reduce the new safety regulations they claim is unfair or too onerous, reports The New York Times.

Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan, suggest the regulations are too broad and need to be revised.

"Let?s focus more on real dangers to our children of perceived ones? said Representative Mary Bono Mack at the subcommittee hearing.

A new consumer products database, operated by the CPSC scheduled to go online in 3 weeks may also be delayed. Kansas Republican Mike Pompeo was successful in passing an amendment to an appropriations bill to strip financing for the database.

Pompeo said that manufacturers need to be protected from bogus complaints and lawsuits.

?I?m an engineer. I love data. But I know what people put online,? Mr. Pompeo said at a meeting of the House subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade last week. ?I think this is a plaintiff?s bar dream.?

However, Democrats have the majority in the Senate and are determined to block such measures.

Starting December 31, 2011, children's products from manufacturers and importers subject to the lead testing for lead content limit, must have the appropriate certificates showing they have been tested by a CPSC-approved 3rd party laboratory before they can be sold in the United States.

Related Resources:

• CPSC Settles with Toy Co Over Lead Paint Violation (Findlaw's Common Law)
• Fisher-Price Recall: 10 Million Toys Recalled (Findlaw's Common Law)
• Lead Poisoning (FindLaw.com)