針對在12歲以下的兒童用品中禁止使用鉛塗料及鄰苯二甲酸酯類(phthalates)的禁令,美總統布希於14日簽署該法案時,掌聲立即從四面八方響起。全球相關法令中,就屬該法的標準最為嚴格。
由於2007年448項新的回收產品中,大約半數都是兒童用品,因而促使該法案進入立法程序;同樣地,國會在2008年7月底也壓倒性的通過了「消費品安全改革法案」。
這個立法核准美國消費品安全的委員會負責2010到2014年會計年度的相關事宜,並擴大委員會職責以確保消費品的安全性,尤其是在專為兒童設計的消費品上。
美國眾議院發言人暨加州民主黨籍議員的裴洛西(Nancy Pelosi)於8月14日表示,這項新的立法將讓父母都可以心安。裴洛西說道,「這項具里程碑意義的法令將加強我們各方面的能力,像是預防販售不安全的玩具、盡速將查到的將有害產品下架,以及增加違反產品安全法的罰金與罰鍰等。」
發起此法案的美國阿肯色州的民主黨參議員普萊爾(Mark Pryor)說道,這將讓有毒玩具及危險產品遠離我們的家園。
普萊爾表示,「此法案藉由賦予消費品安全委員會實權及資源,來巡視現今的全球市場,將控制權回給委員會,這個消費者監督機關的手中。普萊爾表示,「我們也需要要求製造業者及零售商盡更多責任,如果他們不能達到較高的安全標準,就要堅持開罰。另外,我們從工廠地板到儲藏櫃都妥當安置了許多新的防護設施,以避免不必要的受傷與事故發生。」
這項立法在眾議院中受到伊利諾州聯邦眾議員魯什(Bobby Rush)的支持。「針對有毒玩具制定更嚴格的新禁令,並讓消費品安全委員會恢復實權,國會同心協力地努力讓兒童產品更加安全,」魯什於8月1日說道,「在重建消費者安全及消費者信心方面,我們已往前邁了一大步。」
Praise poured in from all quarters today as President George W. Bush signed into law a bill that bans lead paint and phthalates in products intended for children under the age of 12 - the strictest such law in the world.
The record-setting 448 product recalls last year - about half of them for children's products - drove the bill through the legislative process. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 passed both houses of Congress late last month with overwhelming majorities.
The legislation reauthorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission for FYs 2010-2014 and expands the commission's role in ensuring the safety of consumer products, especially those designed for children.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said today that the new law would give parents peace of mind. "This landmark law will strengthen our ability to prevent unsafe toys from being sold, remove from the shelves more quickly products that are found to be harmful, and increase fines and penalties for violating product safety laws," Pelosi said.
Senator Mark Pryor, an Arkansas Democrat who authored the legislation said it would "keep toxic toys and other dangerous products out of our homes."
"This new law hands back the reins to the CPSC, our consumer watchdog agency, by giving it the necessary authority and resources to patrol today's global marketplace," Pryor said.
"We also require more responsibility from manufacturers and retailers, and stiffen the penalties if they fail to meet higher safety standards. From the factory floor to the store shelves, there are dozens more new safeguards that we've built in place to prevent unnecessary injuries and fatalities," Pryor said.
Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois sponsored the bill in the House. "Congress is united in its effort to make children's products safer by establishing a tough new ban on toxic toys and revitalizing the Consumer Product Safety Commission," said Rush on August 1. "We have taken a big step towards reestablishing consumer safety and consumer confidence."
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