Lawmakers Push for Phthalate Ban Enforcement
Back in August, Congress passed a law that raises safety standards for toys, banning phthalates, hormone-mimicking chemicals, in products for children under age 12. And President Bush signed the law, to his credit.According to USA Today, lawmakers intended that the toys be off the shelves by the time the law takes effect on February 10, 2009. However, an attorney at the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a legal opinion stating that stores may continue to sell the phthalate-laced toys as long as those items were made before February 10th. This change could leave the toys on the shelves for years.
Phthalates are serious stuff, found in everything from shower curtains to soft toys like rubber duckies to fragrances. For example, a study found that baby boys born to mothers with high phthalates levels are more likely to have undescended testicles and small penises.
A spokewoman for the CPSC, Julie Vallese, says the agency has to carry out the law as written and new safety standards have never applied to items produced before those items go into effect. Vallese added that "The authors of the legislation should have done their homework." Ouch.
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