Toxic Toys protections head to Governor

March 10, 2008

OLYMPIA—The House of Representatives voted 92-2 today to protect children against toxic chemicals in toys and other children’s products, giving final legislative approval to a bill that barely survived a near-death experience less than a week earlier.

“This is great news for the kids who will be protected against toxic toys and great news for parents who won’t have to worry whether the toys and other products they buy for their kids are safe,” said state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, the lead sponsor of the measure. “I’m proud the Legislature put the safety of children first.”

The Children’s Safe Products Act sharply limits the levels of three toxic chemicals—lead, cadmium, and phthalates — in toys and other children’s products sold in Washington.

The measure also requires manufacturers to disclose whether their products contain other chemicals that have been found to be a concern for children’s health.

The limits on toxic substances in Dickerson’s bill reflect medical and scientific research on how these substances affect the developing brains and bodies of children. Lead, for example, reduces children’s IQ’s and is linked to attention disorders. Phthalates are increasingly linked to reproductive defects in males.

Pediatricians and other health professionals cheered today’s passage of the measure.

"The Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is pleased that the Washington State Legislature has adopted safety standards for children's toys that will benefit the health of children now and into the future," said chapter President Dr. Neil Kaneshiro.

After sailing through the House earlier in the session, Dickerson’s legislation hit a speed bump when a toy industry group poured tens of thousands of dollars into lobbying efforts to block the bill. Some pundits gave up the bill for dead as a Friday deadline for passing bills loomed.

But just minutes before the 5 p.m. Friday deadline arrived, Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, offered friendly amendments and worked with Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, to shepherd the measure through the Senate with a strong 40-9 bipartisan vote. 

The late Senate amendments exempted tricycles, various consumer electronic products, BB guns, model rockets and several other products from the protections in the bill. In accordance with an agreement reached between Dickerson and House Republicans, the bill as amended by the Senate also has a slightly higher lead standard.

“Washington’s kids are going to have great Christmases with toxic free toys.” said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Environmental Health Advocate for the Washington Toxics Coalition. “We want to thank Rep. Dickerson for her leadership in passing this bill to protect children’s health and give parents more peace of mind,”

If signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire, the Children’s Safe Products Act would give Washington the strongest protections against toxic toys in the nation.