Gregoire signs toughest toy law in U.S.
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OLYMPIA - toy safety, rules of a strong Sprint, then almost stumbled in the race, schwabbelte finally at the finish line, Tuesday, Gov. Chris Gregoire law, stricter standards of the nation. After careful consideration of the veto Children’s Safe products of the law because of the fear that the achievement of a wide ban on toys, Gregoire nixed selective parts of the bill, keeping intact most of the restrictions on products hazardous chemical - at least for now. The governor said it would convene an advisory group on the review of the proposed standards, timelines and testing before the rules will come into force in July 2009. “Nothing is more important than the safety and health of our children,” said Gregoire. “The toys and products that we give them, it is necessary that the highest standards of product safety.” Ecologists praising the action. “We are absolutely thrilled,” said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal of the Washington Toxics Coalition, an environmental group, verfocht the bill. “This includes the lid on toxic toys in the Washington area. Children and parents now have peace of mind if they are going to shop, in Washington, that their games are safe. ” The bill is significantly reduced the amount of lead, cadmium and phthalates, chemicals commonly used laminate, allows children’s toys, cosmetics, jewelry, and objects of childhood illnesses because car seats or sold in the country. After the lobbying of the toy industry, Gregoire removes a prerequisite for the State setting up a website to inform the public with information on hazardous chemicals in children’s products and alternatives safe. In addition, a delay went to the State Department of Ecology, to a list of chemicals that is the greatest threat to children, but also a period for producers in a single file for guidance, their products that contain these high-risk chemicals. Gregoire also eliminates the introductory chapter of the law said it was important to reduce exposure to metals and plasticizers, “as part of the health effects in the long term, such as defects birth, reproductive damage, impaired learning, toxic for the liver and cancer. “There were a few questions, if any, the State is responsible for the protection and risks of litigation . With the signing of the law, the governor has played on both sides of the problem. A comprehensive review of the veto could be stigmatizing children as security. Approval of the new rules, they may be open to attacks from the economy. Gregoire aspect of consumer protection while ausbügeln promising elements, which seem to be much of the bureaucracy and unexpected. ” Small toy shops feared that the producers do not want to take the necessary steps for component testing dangerous or modify the standards of Washington, which perhaps they putting business. Gregoire praises, and work with them to ensure that this is not the case. “The fact that (the law) have been improved, but it is a sign that the governor of the right that is interested by all parties concerned,” said Allen Rickert, the owners of Seattle’s Top Ten Toys. “They wanted to doing the right thing. She wanted more secure and safe toys legislation, and they also wanted the legislation was realistic. ” House Bill 2647 first face little resistance, easy to assemble the wave of consumer concerns, as a result of the past year in mind, the safety of millions of toys. In February, the bill to Parliament, which was adopted unanimously. As he works toward the passage in the Senate last month, the national authorities of Toy Industry Association schnappte attention to the expenditure of $ 50000 for the pressure groups are calling for restrictions weakest. The bill has received overwhelming approval. The American Chemistry Council, a particular group, and in mid-March condemned Washington’s legislators, the rules of admission. It defends the safety of phthalates, a chemical plasticizer used plastic toys and perfumes take more time, which is to influence the function of hormones and development. Gregoire recently met with representatives from Mattel and Hasbro, who said that the rules can lead to a ban on the sale of electronic education, because in the management of their internal computer components. The governor said that the State immediately to clarify the intent of the bill with a rule management to ensure that the electronics are not new restrictions. While Washington was the first, other states, including New York, Maine and Illinois, to take better account of toy safety rules, said Sager-Rosenthal. Stricter rules of the Confederation also discussed. The Toy Industry Association is trying to silver stripes in the decision released Tuesday a statement said: “We are encouraged that the Governor to veto the two major parts of the Act and the strong cautions about other sections, such as state legislators ignore, complex problems in rush on their passports by law. ” All parties involved, rather than the federal rules state regulators. Gregoire said: “We are in Washington not to wait, to protect our children … but we must be careful not to throw us good with the bad toys |