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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
  
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DePasquale-sponsored product recall measure passes state House
HARRISBURG, May 12 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, that would strengthen Pennsylvania's consumer protection laws by targeting unsafe and recalled products unanimously passed the state House today by a vote of 199-0.
The bill (H.B. 2087) would require the state attorney general to establish and maintain a Web page 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.
"My legislation does two important things," DePasquale said. "First, it is critical that we provide individuals and families with access to information that will help them better protect themselves and their children from unsafe products. And secondly, we need to make sure that these products are taken off the shelves and not reintroduced into the consumer market. It’s a common-sense bill and I am pleased that it received significant support from my colleagues in the state House."
DePasquale said he introduced the proposal last year when he realized Pennsylvania had no law that required products to be removed from store shelves after they are recalled by the federal government.
"The number of consumer products being recalled because of some safety issue, especially children's toys, is staggering," DePasquale said. "I was shocked to learn that even if a product is found to be unsafe, stores in Pennsylvania are not required to take it off the shelves."
Earlier this year, DePasquale announced that a report released by Kids In Danger, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the safety of children's products, showed evidence that child product recalls are reaching epidemic proportions. DePasquale said the report found that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued 231 children's product recalls last year, accounting for more than 46 million items on shelves across the country. He added that the recalled products caused at least 650 injuries and six deaths.
The Kids In Danger report also stated that 38 manufacturers recalled more than one product, and that children's toys constituted almost half of all of the product recalls. Over half of the sporting goods and nursery products that were recalled last year caused injury before they were pulled from the market.
"Consumer protection advocates labeled 2007 as the 'Year of the Recall' with regard to children's products, as the number of recalls jumped by over 340 percent in just one year," DePasquale said. "Something needs to be done to protect our children here in Pennsylvania from dangerous and sometimes lethal toys. I am pleased that my colleagues in the House advanced this proposal, and am hopeful that the state Senate will not delay in sending this to the governor."
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