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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Joseph Preston |
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Preston bill would ban toxic toys from shelves in Pa.
HARRISBURG, May 2 – State Rep. Joe Preston, chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, announced today he will introduce legislation that would ban toys and other children’s products containing toxic chemicals from store shelves in Pennsylvania.
Preston’s bill would specifically regulate the sale, manufacture or distribution of items such as toys, bibs and pacifiers that contain harmful chemicals such as lead, arsenic or plasticizers known as phthalates.
"Parents have come forward in droves with horror stories of children being poisoned by seemingly harmless, everyday objects," Preston said. "While efforts have been made to warn consumers about the chemicals found in toys, we need to take the next step. Under my bill, Pennsylvania would join 29 other states that have banned toxic toys from their shelves."
The lawmaker said states are taking matters into their own hands because Congress has failed to pass broad legislation to address the U.S. sale of children’s products containing poisonous chemicals.
California has already banned the use of phthalates in children’s toys and products, which some studies suggest causes developmental and reproductive growth problems. The chemicals also have been banned in Argentina, Japan, Mexico and the European Union.
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