Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: August 9, 2002
Contact: Helen Drew 222-1016

Health Department Implements RI Children’s Product Safety Act
 HEALTHri.gov website links to Consumer Products Safety Commission

Federal agencies and manufacturers recall more than 300 dangerous or defective products annually. Recalls remove dangerous products from store shelves, but often do not get important information to families in private home and childcare centers. A new RI law enhances public safety and improves public access to information about the safety of toys and other children’s products.

"Anyone concerned with child safety is interested in preventing injuries and deaths that may result from recalled products," noted Senator Catherine Graziano, sponsor of the 2002 legislation." This bill will begin the process of making sure that parents and daycare operators recognize unsafe products and remove them before tragedy strikes." The new law also prohibits commercial users from remanufacture, retrofitting or selling a child’s product that is unsafe. Children’s products must conform to all federal laws and standards and not have been recalled.

Children’s products are designed for the care of or use by children under six. But are they safe? Now, parents and child care professionals can visit the child product safety website through the www.health.ri.gov or by going directly to the Consumer Products Safety Commission website at: www.cpsc.gov. This website includes safety information on child related products such as: car seats/infant carriers, cribs & playpens, children’s clothing, baby walkers, strollers, swings and gates. The site also reports on toys including bikes and scooters, water toys, crib toys, plush toys and dolls!

Childcare Centers in RI will be required to receive and review bulletins about child product safety. The licensing agent, the Department of Children Youth and Families will work with childcare centers to implement that component of the new act.