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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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DePasquale calls for greater consumer protection from recalled products
HARRISBURG, Nov. 13 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, today called for changes in state law to protect Pennsylvania consumers from dangerous, recalled products.
“Since the beginning of this year, more than 170 items have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” DePasquale said. “The recalls include dozens of infant and children’s toys and products. Parents have a lot of responsibilities on their plate, and it would be extremely helpful to have one place to find information about these recalls so they can protect their children."
DePasquale is working on legislation that would have two specific purposes:
- Require the attorney general to establish and maintain a Web page providing links to lists of all national agencies that deal with consumer product safety and product recalls. The attorney general would have the authority to design and publicize this online resource.
- Declare any products identified on any of these lists to be unlawful for commerce within Pennsylvania. The attorney general and/or county district attorneys would be authorized to enforce the restriction.
DePasquale said his proposal models a law established by Vermont that requires its Department of Health to post Web links to listings of product recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Products that have been deemed unsafe must be removed from store shelves – no excuses,” DePasquale said. “One central site would increase the flow of information between the entities authorized to initiate a recall and average consumers, whether they’re parents looking to protect their children or someone looking at buying a used car. We have seen too many recalls over the past year that put our citizens at risk. Without requiring that these products be removed from the sales floor, we are opening the door to potentially life-threatening accidents.”
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, nationwide recalls this month include:
- children’s sunglasses sold at Dollar General stores – lead content in paint.
- Curious George Plush Dolls sold at toy and discount stores – lead content in paint on the face and plastic hat.
- Aqua Dots sold at mass merchandisers – when water is added to the beads, the coating produces an effect similar to that of the “date rape drug” and is toxic to children if ingested.
- Wendy Bellissimo Collection Convertible Cribs sold at Babies R Us stores – bolts can come loose, posing an entrapment and strangulation hazard.
- Warm Mist Carefree Humidifier from Hunter Fan Co. – water leakage poses fire hazard.
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn™ Learning Kitchen™ Toys – small parts pose choking hazard.
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DePasquale said New Jersey, Maryland, and Vermont are among the states that have set up Web sites similar to the one he’s proposing. Under the legislation, a retailer that knowingly continues to sell recalled goods would pay a $5,000 fine.
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CONTACT: Ruth A. Myers |