Safe Toys Act Introduced By Graves

Press Release

Safe Toys Act Introduced By Graves

Growing concern this holiday season over unsafe Chinese imports has caused U.S. Congressman Sam Graves to introduce legislation today that increases penalties on companies that knowingly violate the law. H.R. 4261, the Safe Toys Act, also increases transparency for consumers and gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) greater latitude to address consumer concerns.

"Once again China is playing by a different set of rules than American companies," said Graves. "Now they are shipping us toys that are harmful to our children. It's unacceptable and Americans shouldn't have to worry about whether or not their children's toys are safe."

The Safe Toys act would raise the highest financial penalty for companies knowingly violating the law to $10 million dollars from the current $1.825 million. It would also require producers to certify that their products meet CSPC standards before they are exported to the United States. Finally, it directs the CPSC to make a publicly available list of companies who have been certified so consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing toys.

"These rules will help ensure that our children have safe toys," said Graves. "Consumers have a right to know which toys are safe and companies who knowingly violate the law should be punished severely."

Graves has been a consistent critic of China's lax standards and trade practices. China accounts for 16% of total U.S. imports, which equaled roughly $288 billion in 2006. China is also the largest supplier of imported toys, accounting for 86 percent of the market.

The bill will likely be referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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