Consumer Safety Bill Passes House

PUBLISHED: July 30, 2008

Washington, D.C. - More independent testing for lead, stricter lead standards and greater resources for inspectors are all part of a major overhaul of consumer product safety regulations included in the final version of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today and is expected to pass the U.S. Senate soon and be signed by the President.

Congresswoman Melissa Bean (IL-08) cosponsored the legislation and helped introduce many of the provisions in the previous House bill that passed in December.

“Protecting our children and families from unsafe toys and other products is a critical role for our federal government,” said Bean, a mother of two. “This bill aligns with the priorities of parents in my district, ensuring that future shopping for their children won’t be complicated by product safety concerns.”

H.R. 4040 includes several provisions that originated in an earlier bill that Congresswoman Bean helped introduce: H.R. 3903, the Kids Toy Safety Act. Her parent-friendly provisions include:

•           Third-Party testing of children’s products: The bill mandates pre-market testing of many children’s products for lead and other hazards by certified laboratories.

•           Tracking labels to aid recalls: The bill requires manufacturers to place distinguishing marks on products and packaging of children’s products to aid in recall of children’s products.

In addition, the bill includes broad provisions designed to protect American families in the new global marketplace:

•           Tougher lead standards: The bill bans lead beyond a minute amount in products intended for children under 12.  Once fully phased in, the bill would lower the standard from 600 parts per million in total weight to 100 parts per million or trace amounts.  It also mandates that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) periodically review and revise this standard to require the lowest amount of lead that science and technology makes feasible to achieve.

•           Strengthens the Consumer Product Safety Commission:  The bill creates a new power for CPSC to immediately share information about dangerous products with the public through a searchable database, and ensures State public health agencies are kept informed.

•           Provides CPSC with more resources:  The bill significantly increases CPSC resources to hire additional staff and end industry-sponsored travel. The bill increases the commission’s funding from $80 million to $136 million over five years.

•           Strengthens Enforcement Against Bad Actors:  The bill increases the cap on civil penalties from $1.8 million to $15 million per person.

“The percentage of toys imported from China has more than doubled over the last 30 years,” Bean said. “Over the same time, the number of employees at the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been cut in half. This defies common sense and must be addressed.”