Advocacy groups sue CPSC over phthalates
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 09 2008 at 2:14 PM
Phthalates >>

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is being sued by two public advocacy groups. The lawsuit, which alleges that the commission is acting illegally by not planning to fully implement a new ban on toys containing toxic chemicals, was filed on Thursday by Natural Resources Defense Council and Public Citizen.

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. According to the suit, despite a new ban that goes into effect Feb. 10, 2009, the CPSC has decided to allow chemical-laden toys and child-care products made before that date to be sold at stores.

The ban is applicable to all products containing plastic-softening chemical phthalate. According to studies, phthalate is linked to many health problems including abnormal reproductive development in children.

The suit claims that the commission’s policy will cause direct harm to individuals exposed to phthalates in children’s products. It will also cause consumer confusion regarding which products sold in stores abide by the phthalate ban, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit asks for canceling CPSC’s decision. It also seeks to apply the ban to all children’s toys and products sold after Feb. 10, regardless of their manufacturing date.

Julie Vallese, a spokesperson representing the CPSC, said that the commission is implementing the law that Congress wrote.

“CPSC doesn’t look for loopholes when comes to safety. We are fully committed to protecting families,” she said.

The ban of phthalates was included in stricter U.S. product safety rules signed into law on August 14 by President George W. Bush in response to a string of recalls of Chinese-made toys last year.

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