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Toymakers Frustrated by Patchwork of Safety Rules

July 25, 2008

When Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a law banning lead and chemicals known as phthalates from children’s products in April, Amy Tucker was thrilled. As president of Matter Group, a Seattle company that makes children’s games and stuffed animals out of recycled materials, Tucker’s products were already lead- and phthalate-free. But when other states began adopting their own restrictions, she became dismayed by the emerging patchwork of regulations.

“It puts manufacturers in the position of having 50 different sets of regulations to abide by,” she said, “and that can become very onerous for a company.”
In an attempt to avoid a repeat of last year’s wave of tainted-toy recalls, lawmakers in eight states have imposed restrictions on potentially toxic substances in children’s products such as lead, cadmium and phthalates. Phthalates, chemicals used to make plastics, have been linked to reproductive problems.

Children’s product manufacturers such as Hasbro and Mattel and toy retailers such as Toys R Us are echoing Tucker’s sentiments. They argue that having different state regulations on children’s products will keep safe toys off the market.

Read Article Washington Post

Posted By Phoenix Injury Attorneys

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