Toxic Toys: Playing safely

We were encouraged Monday to hear that the state House approved a bill that would ban toxic materials -- such as lead -- from children's toys. House Bill 2647 (or the second substitute bill), also known as The Children's Safe Products Act, demands that starting next year "no manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use in this state a children's product or product component" containing harmful levels of lead, cadmium and phthalates. The bill also requires that manufacturers clearly label their products while banning retailers from selling products that contain toxic materials above levels considered to be safe. Given the news reports we've read over the past year or so of contaminated or toxic toys, toiletries, pet food and medication coming from China, the measure is a step in the right direction.

But the bill won't solve the problem entirely. The fact is, manufacturers and distributors in China have done much to earn our distrust. We've seen evidence of willful -- rather than accidental -- acts of deception, such as labeling dog food as a nonfood item to avoid inspection. Even when U.S. inspectors are involved, such as the current heparin case (a blood thinner linked to four deaths in the U.S.), we can't be sure that things will go right. According to The Associated Press, inspectors checked out the wrong factory in China.

Time will tell if the long arm of our state's law can reach all the way to China and make manufacturers there respect our regulations.