WASHINGTON — Despite a record number of recalls this year, potentially dangerous toys remain on store shelves days before the start of the busy holiday shopping season, consumer groups warned Tuesday. Federal regulators, under fire for lax enforcement, urged shoppers to be vigilant.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has worked closely with Mattel Inc. and other manufacturers on recalls of millions of toys tainted with lead and other products, yet two consumer investigations released Tuesday cited possible violations, including sales of toys with small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
“Why is it we are the ones that are getting this information out to parents, and not the government and not the toy companies?” asked Charles Margulis of the Center for Environmental Health.
In the CPSC’s annual toy-safety message, Nancy Nord, acting head of the CPSC, sought to reassure parents that the agency was doing all it can to remove unsafe toys. She noted the Chinese government recently had signed agreements to help prevent lead-painted toys from reaching the U.S.
“Toys today are undergoing more inspection and more intense scrutiny than ever before,” said Nord, citing the CPSC’s “daily commitment to keeping consumers safe 365 days a year.”
Still, Nord, who was traveling Tuesday and could not be reached for comment, urged parents to read product warning labels carefully and sign up to receive direct e-mail notices of recalls at . A CPSC spokeswoman, Julie Val lese, sought to play down the significance of the two consumer surveys, calling the outside reports “subjective” and “confusing.”
Vallese left the door open to the possibility of several more CPSC recalls before year’s end, declining to say if most dangerous toys had already been removed from store shelves, given the recent spate of toy recalls.
“When we find violations, we will announce them,” she told The Associated Press.
Joan Lawrence, a vice president of the Toy Industry Association, said more recalls were probable, given recent manufacturer retesting of products.
“That’s why it’s so important for consumers to pay attention to recall notices,” Lawrence said.
The series of announcements Tuesday, coming three days before the start of the busy shopping season, helped cap a year of harsh congressional criticism of CPSC enforcement following a number of recalls involving millions of lead-tainted toys and other products — the highest number of recalls ever that resulted from product defects.On Monday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown sued 20 companies in state court, including Mattel Inc. and Toys “R” Us, claiming they sold toys containing “unlawful quantities of lead.” The move follows major recalls of toys, lunchboxes, children’s jewelry and other goods during the last year by CPSC.
Toy guidelines
Toy-safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Use age and safety recommendations on labels as a guide. Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
For children under age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which could cause choking.
For children under age 6, avoid sets with small magnets, which could cause serious injury or death if swallowed.
For children under age 8, avoid toys with sharp edges and points.
Helmets and safety gear should fit properly for use with riding toys such as skateboards or inline skates.
Improper use of projectile toys, such as rockets or darts, could result in serious eye injuries.
Battery chargers and adapters can pose a burn hazard for children. Use with adult supervision.
