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Klobuchar Statement on Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall on Toys Made in China

August 14, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement regarding the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) announcement that more than 9.5 million toys made in China will be recalled.

“This summer alone has seen well over 13 million toys recalled – popular toys removed from our homes and our stores because they have been found to be extremely dangerous, in some cases lethal, to our children,” said Klobuchar.  “It's increasingly clear that the Consumer Product Safety Commission doesn't have the tools it needs to adequately safeguard the public, and I’m working with my Commerce Committee Colleagues to better equip the Commission with the authority and resources that it has lacked in recent years to keep our kids and consumers safe.

Senator Klobuchar serves on the Senate Commerce Committee and has been actively working with her colleagues on new legislation to modernize and strengthen the CPSC.  The Committee has already held one hearing on unsafe Chinese imports on July 18th.  Klobuchar also hosted a toy safety forum last month in Minnetonka, Minnesota to examine the effects of tainted toys from China.

Just last week, Sen. Klobuchar and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to the CPSC to demand answers to questions about the Commission’s action plan for ensuring that children’s products meet safety standards, including steps the Commission is taking to increase awareness of federal standards, require third party testing and verification of product safety, and impose penalties and other enforcement actions on violators.

Today’s announcement by the CPSC and Mattel comes less than just weeks after Mattel’s decision to almost 1 million of its toys because they contained unsafe lead levels.  Of the 9.5 million toys recalled today, more than 9 million toys are being recalled due to loose magnets that can cause serious intestinal injuries and even death to children when swallowed. An additional 253,000 toys are being recalled because they contain poisonous lead levels.

Today’s recall includes popular toys such as Batman action figures, Barbie and Tanner play sets, and toy cars.

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