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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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Toy recall bill approved by House committee
HARRISBURG, June 2 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, said that legislation he re-introduced this session that would strengthen Pennsylvania's consumer protection laws by targeting unsafe toys and other children's products was approved unanimously by the House Consumer Affairs Committee today.
"I'm thrilled to see swift movement on this bill that would protect Pennsylvania's children," DePasquale said. "Since the 2007 recall of nearly 200 items – including children's toys, cribs and other products – by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, I have made every effort to ensure that parents can safely buy toys and items for their kids without worry."
DePasquale said H.B. 1431 would make it a crime in Pennsylvania to knowingly sell recalled children's products and would give the state attorney general and local district attorneys the authority to prosecute such offenses.
The attorney general would also be required to establish and maintain a Web site that would provide links to lists of all national agencies that deal with consumer product safety and product recalls. The products identified by any of these lists would be restricted from sale or commerce within Pennsylvania.
The bill also would require manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and distributors to notify their customers and retailers of recalled children's products within 24 hours of the announced recall. Retailers would have three days to remove recalled items from their shelves, DePasquale said.
House Bill 1431 is expected to soon come before the full House for vote. Last year, the state House unanimously passed the measure, but the Senate did not vote on it.
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