Toy Safety Update 2: Bad Laws

May 11, 2008

Lead, as most of you know, is a naturally occurring element in nature. In fact, that image you see at the top of this blog is the symbol for lead on the periodic table. Lead is, for all extents and purposes, found everywhere in the environment. It has always been with us and has, over the centuries, found its way into everything from the lead in lead pencils (which we used to chew on) to batteries and solder.

It is therefore very troubling that recent legislation in Washington State and Maryland, though well intended, makes no exemption for components that are not supposed to be accessible to children. In other words, lead readings in a part of the toy that is inaccessible to a child like the circuit board, will count towards it being banned or not.

Why is this a problem? Well, because if a product has batteries (which, of course, contain lead) it will be in excess of lead limits and will not be allowable. It’s because if a product has a circuit board, the solder will put the toy in access of lead limits and will also have to be taken off the shelf. Lead also occurs in electrical wiring, crystals and protective screens. You can imagine the number of toys that will disappear from shelves when these laws pass.

So, don’t just read but carefully study safety laws being debated in your state and make your voice heard. If you are a retailer and you don’t you make your voice heard you may find yourself with partially empty shelves. If you are a manufacturer, you may find that you may not be able to ship your products into some states. If you don’t know what laws are up for consideration in your state, email the TIA at psandel@toyassociation.org

Make your voice heard. It’s in your own best interest.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on May 11, 2008 | Comments (1)

May 21, 2008

In response to: Toy Safety Update 2: Bad Laws
Gary Stortz commented:

Richard, not all batteries contain lead today. In fact most AAA, AA, C and D cell batteries (used in childrens toys) do not. A good resource is this page on wikipedia look for Rechargeable Batteries for rechargeables and for one time use batteries (that are mostly Alkaline) batteries you can look up Alkaline Batteries ... Lead has been outlawed in solder for the EU for 2 years, this mandate is called RoHS and came into effect late in 2006. What is RoHS? The RoHS Directive stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. Anybody wanting to sell electronic toys must comply if they want to sell their products in the EU. Lead has been identified around the world as a cumulative danger to all forms of life and is being declared a dangerous substance. The crazy thing is that it's use is still climbing around the world and some say we'll run out in this century (hard to believe) I just wanted to set the record straight on batteries and Lead BUT I think you are 100 percent correct regarding the need for standardized FEDERAL Laws, not a hodge podge of state laws that will kill all creativity amongst the small inventors who are still the back bone of creativity in the toy business. Keep up the great Blog and all the best from Canada!