New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is taking action to ensure the prompt removal of recalled products, responding to the CPSC’s unwillingness to ask for, or accept, the authority to impose mandatory recalls. The following proposals do not require approval by the Legislature, and will go into effect immediately:

The Department of Health and the Consumer Protection Board will inspect retailers to ensure compliance with all recalls;

Day care providers will be required to remove all recalled toys;

The Department of Health will send notices to pediatricians reminding them to tell parents about the dangers of lead poisoning;

The state will coordinate Toy Testing Days in November, which is apparently toy safety awareness month;

The Governor has also called upon the Legislature to impose civil and criminal fines against anyone who sells recalled toys after the announcement of a recall. New York’s response should serve as a model to other states offended by the CPSC’s negligent resistance to adequate funds or authority. It is unfortunate that the federal government must be goaded into action by states that have neither the capacity nor the mandate to uniformly protect American consumers.

Governor Spitzer Acts To Protect New York Children From Lead-Poisoning Threat In Toys (Press Release) [New York State]
(Photo: Getty)

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