Toy Safety Report Cites Product Recall Risks for Holiday Season

By Mike Rozembajgier

The latest U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) annual toy safety report found that more than a dozen toys widely available on store shelves violate federal safety standards. With the holiday shopping season well underway, the PIRG report serves as a timely warning, not only for consumers, but also for manufacturers and distributors of children’s toys that consumer protection needs to be a top priority. Recalls can be tricky at this time of year, and with all the distractions of the holiday season, manufacturers and retailers must take extra steps now to ensure that their recall management teams and retrieval field force are ready, in case a recall is required.

The product safety issues most often identified in the PIRG report include high levels of lead and a family of chemicals called phthalates, as well as toys with small parts that can present a choking hazard. PIRG investigators found several toys on the shelves that contained high levels of chemicals specifically limited by federal regulations.

The report also cited several toys that violated Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards for small parts and at least one that created unsafe noise levels.

In addition to presenting the results of its investigation, the PIRG report offered recommendations for maintaining high safety standards for children’s products, suggesting that “manufacturers should be required to provide all hazard and health-impact information to the state and federal government,” and calling for the reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act to “ensure the American people are better protected from toxins in the environment.”

Despite the report’s findings, industry officials maintain that safety standards remain a “year round” concern. According to John Lawrence, the Toy Industry Association’s vice president for safety standards, “All eyes have been on toy safety for several years now,” and he is “confident that the toys on store shelves now are safe.”

PIRG describes the 26^th annual Trouble in Toyland report as a “guideline for consumers when purchasing toys for young children,” helping to “provide examples of toys currently on shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.” PIRG investigations have led to at least 150 product recalls over the years.

Especially during the busy holiday toy buying season, manufacturers must be prepared to manage product recalls. Any recalled product must be retrieved from the marketplace quickly and efficiently. That takes careful advance planning, training, and practice.

Increased sales of toys and other children’s product during the Christmas holiday season require manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to take increased responsibility to watch for product risks and maintain strict safety standards. If a product must be removed from the marketplace, manufacturers need to be prepared with efficient and effective recall management plans.

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