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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
  
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Casorio wants restrictions on 'toxic toys'
HARRISBURG, May 16 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. is co-sponsoring legislation introduced in the state House this week that would protect children in Pennsylvania from toys, baby products and other items for children that contain potentially toxic or otherwise dangerous chemicals.
Casorio, D-Westmoreland, said many stores sell toys, baby bibs, pacifiers and other products that contain chemicals that research has shown may be harmful to children. These chemicals can include lead, arsenic and some plasticizers known as phthalates.
"Congress has not addressed this issue yet, and nothing has been done at the federal level to keep these potentially harmful products off of store shelves in the United States," Casorio said. "Nearly 30 other states have taken action, though, and Pennsylvania should protect its children, as well."
The legislation (H.B. 2122) Casorio is co-sponsoring includes provisions that would require the state to gather information on potentially toxic chemicals in children's products, require manufacturers to notify state officials if their products contain these chemicals, and restrict the sale of some of these products in Pennsylvania.
The bill also would require the secretary of Health to establish a public safety campaign to educate consumers about children's products that are recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, do not meet federal safety regulations or voluntary safety standards, or contain chemicals that are potentially dangerous to children.
The legislation also includes civil penalties for manufacturers that fail to follow the reporting requirements and restrictions in the bill.
"Our efforts to protect children from the dangers of drugs and violence, and to give them a good start in life, are compromised if at the same time they are being exposed to chemicals and other products that are harmful to their health or development," Casorio said. "At the very least, parents deserve to know which products might be harmful to their children. In cases where we already know that products don't meet health and safety standards, these products should not be showing up on Pennsylvania store shelves."
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