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Posted on 04/02/2008 1:56:05 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
OLYMPIA -- Toy safety rules that started as a strong sprint, then nearly stumbled out of the race, finally wobbled across the finish line Tuesday when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law the toughest standards in the nation.
After considering a veto of the Children's Safe Products Act because of worries that it would cause a broad ban on toys, Gregoire selectively nixed portions of the bill, keeping intact most of the restrictions on dangerous chemicals -- at least for now.
The governor said she would convene an advisory group to review the proposed standards, timelines and testing requirements before the rules go into effect in July 2009.
"Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our children," Gregoire said. "The toys and products we give them must meet the highest possible standards of product safety."
Environmentalists praised the action.
"We're absolutely thrilled," said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal of the Washington Toxics Coalition, an environmental group that championed the bill. "This closes the lid on the toxic toy box in Washington. Kids and parents now have peace of mind when they go to the stores in Washington that their toys are safe."
The law will dramatically cut the amount of lead, cadmium and phthalates, a commonly used plasticizing chemical, allowed in children's toys, cosmetics, jewelry, teething items and car seats made or sold in the state.
After lobbying from the toy industry, Gregoire removed a requirement for the state to set up a Web site to provide the public with information on dangerous chemicals in children's products and safer alternatives.
Also gone is a deadline for the state Department of Ecology to come up with a list of chemicals posing the greatest threat to children, as well as a deadline for manufacturers to file notices indicating which of their products contain these high-risk chemicals.
Gregoire also eliminated the introductory section of the legislation that stated it was important to reduce exposure to the metals and plasticizer, which are "linked to long-term health impacts, such as birth defects, reproductive harm, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer." There was some question whether it would make the state liable for protection and at risk of lawsuits.
In signing the legislation, the governor played to both sides of the issue.
A complete veto could allow critics to brand her as indifferent to child safety. Approving new, strict regulations could leave her open to attacks from the business community.
Gregoire highlighted the consumer-protection aspect while promising to iron out the elements that appeared to involve the most red tape and "unintended consequences."
Smaller toy stores had worried that manufacturers would not want to do the necessary testing for dangerous ingredients or alter products to meet Washington's standards, potentially putting them out of business. Gregoire vowed she would work with them to make sure that didn't happen.
"The fact that (the bill) was tweaked at all is a sign that the governor is interested in doing right by all concerned," said Allen Rickert, owner of Seattle's Top Ten Toys. "She wanted to do the right thing. She wanted to have safer toys and safer legislation and she also wanted to have legislation that was realistic."
House Bill 2647 initially faced little resistance, easily riding the wave of consumer worries that followed last year's safety recall of millions of toys. In February, the bill passed the House unanimously. As it marched toward passage in the Senate last month, the national Toy Industry Association snapped to attention, spending $50,000 on lobbyists calling for weaker restrictions. The bill still received overwhelming approval.
The American Chemistry Council, a trade group, in mid-March condemned Washington's lawmakers for approving the rules. They defended the safety of phthalates, a chemical used to soften plastic toys and make fragrances last longer, which can disrupt hormone function and development.
Gregoire recently met with representatives from Mattel and Hasbro who said the rules could lead to a ban on the sale of educational electronics because of the lead used in their internal computer parts. The governor said the state would immediately clarify the intent of the bill with an administrative rule to make sure those electronics were not subject to the new restrictions.
While Washington was the first, other states including New York, Maine and Illinois are considering stronger toy safety rules, Sager-Rosenthal said.
More stringent federal regulations also are being debated.
The Toy Industry Association tried to find the silver lining in the decision, releasing a statement Tuesday saying: "We are encouraged that the governor vetoed two key parts of the bill and issued strong cautions about the remaining sections, as state legislators ignored complex issues in their rush to pass the law."
All parties involved said they preferred federal rules to state regulations.
Gregoire said, "We in Washington are not going to wait to protect our children ... but we must make sure we do not throw out the good with the bad toys."
NEW STATE RULES ON TOY SAFETY Gov. Chris Gregoire Tuesday approved toy safety rules that:
Limit total lead to 90 parts per million by July 1, 2009, 40 ppm by July 1, 2010, if achievable. (Federal standards limit the lead in surface paint on toys to 600 ppm)
Limit total cadmium to 40 ppm by July 1, 2009.
Limit six specific phthalates to 1,000 ppm by July 1, 2009.
Set limits that apply to children's toys; cosmetics and jewelry marketed to children under the age of 12; products used for teething babies; and car seats that are made or sold in Washington.
Good news for American businesses and children.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
OMG I’m sooooo happy that we are looked after...
Any bill so poorly thought-out should be rejected instantly. Come back when you have rubbed a couple of brain cells together.
This has unintended consequences written all over it.
It sounded more like the Toy Industry Association paid $50K to educate these empty headed nanny-staters about unintended consequences.
With this epidemic of all the kids dropping like flies from playing with their toys, this is of major importance. /S
Permanent damage to the reproductive systems of developing children is a issue of major importance.
The plastics we use are poisoning the fruit and destroying our statistical chances to multiply.
Can we go back to playing Cowboys and Indians, and have pinecone fights again??
“Permanent damage to the reproductive systems of developing children is a issue of major importance.
The plastics we use are poisoning the fruit and destroying our statistical chances to multiply.”
Nonsense. Is there really a need for me to post the numerous articles debunking this Greenpeace-inspired scare?
Gov. says toxic kid toys can lead to reproduction and birth defects.
Wonder if the Enviromentalist have considered testing the “Adult section” of the toxic toy box.
Just sayin.
She’s up for re-election this year. Now starts 6 months of her trying to appear moderate.
How many millions in new taxes will be required to create a toy inspection department?
As a Dad, I am all for a ban on battery powered toys.
Oh, and there is a new law in the legislature here in Washington that outlaws both pinecones and saying,
“Cowboys and Indidans”. Whew....it was getting out of control. Now we’re safe.
Exactly!
I went to public school. I know the evils of the white devils.
OOPPS... I goed to publik skool. There, that’s better :>)
Believe me, an awful lot of the legislation filed in Olympia is equally poorly thought out. Several years ago I wrote a letter to the chair of a house committee pointing out how his bill would accomplish the exact opposite of what was intended. (He killed his own bill in his own committee!)
This is a smart law for her to get behind; in such a womanly state as Washington, it’ll go over well. I can’t tell you about the daily emails I get from other moms about the latest recalls, and the grumbling that comes from it— it’s a good move politically to be shown wanting to “do something” about it (all the caveats about what “doing something” may ultimately result in are understood, I’m merely talking about the political implications.).
Sorry, my bold.
Nope. No more cowboys and indians. No more cops and robbers. Heavens, the elite do not want to nourish the natural and necessary trait of protecting one’s home and family in little boys.
The elite teaches there is no right or wrong! And they use whatever they can dredge up to make their case. Today they dip heavily into racism. Tomorrow it will be the thought police.
I actually think this is a very good thing.
Those were the days...
Of course, we usually played Army (GIs VS Nazis) and had BB gun fights. It's OK. We all still have both of our eyes. (Phil has a nasty scar, though; we told his mom that he ran into a thorn bush...)
No - the liberals do not want you to get hurt.
Thank you for helping to kill whatever bill it was. With a HUGE dem majority in both houses (they even had to remodel I think so the dems would have more room!) - I imagine they figure their bills are veto-proof and they get pretty sloppy in righting them, and looking at them from all angles.
The problem is that there's no penalty for sloppy work, other than the bill *might* not pass. If it does get through and turns out to be counterproductive or extremely expensive -- nobody remembers who was its author and who voted for it.
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