• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

News From USW: Improving Consumer Product Safety Commission Good First Step to Address Problem of Toxic Imports

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 December 2007, 12:00 CST

News From USW: Efforts by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and other members of Congress to revitalize the anemic U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is welcome news to working families facing a glut of dangerous imported toys. However, it will take more than a vigilant CPSC to protect consumers against the onslaught of toxic imports, the United Steelworkers said today.

"We applaud Dick Durbin's initiative to improve regulation of these dangerous products," said USW President Leo W. Gerard. "But testing products after they come into this country is not a panacea. Until our nation directly addresses the problem of unregulated trade, we will continue to be forced into a position of frantically putting out fires as they erupt in our neighborhoods."

The Steelworkers have launched a nationwide campaign, supported by a broad array of consumer and environmental groups, reaching out to consumers in their neighborhoods to educate families about how to screen for lead contaminants in toys and other products. They're also offering, while they last, free Get the Lead Out screening kits.

The outreach comes as consumers are dealing with a massive list of recalled lead-laced and defective Chinese-made toys, including more than 20 million recalled by the world's largest toy maker, Mattel Inc. Earlier this year, U.S.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recalled more than 10,000 vinyl bibs made in China because they contained lead. Other toxic imports include defective tires, counterfeit circuit breakers and auto brakes, lipstick, toothpaste, seafood, children's lunch boxes, pet food -- even Cub Scout merit badges.

"U.S. trade policy has essentially undone decades of citizen activism to protect consumers from dangerous products," Gerard said. "We've allowed toxic toys and other products to come in through the back door, free of regulation but bearing an enormous cost to working families."

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada employed in the industries of metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service sector. For more information: www.usw.org/.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category