The New Jersey Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee has approved legislation that would prohibit the sale and/or manufacturing of children’s products containing lead, mercury, or cadmium.
“Exposure to toxic and hazardous materials during a child’s most formative years creates an area of specific concern as they develop,” said sponsor Assemblyman Sampson (D-Hudson).
“By imposing strict regulations and enforcing immediate recalls for contaminated products, we are taking proactive measures to ensure that our children can grow and thrive in an environment free from potentially hazardous materials.”
The bill would require companies that manufacture, distribute, or import products to issue an immediate recall on any items intended for use by children 12 years old and younger that contain lead, mercury, or cadmium.
The bill lays out a timeline for dealing with contaminated products: Retailers must remove them from shelves within 48 hours and return them to the manufacturer, distributor, or importer within 60 days. That entity then has another 60 days to render the products unusable and dispose of them to ensure that no child in New Jersey has the opportunity to re-encounter the products.
“We know children, particularly babies and toddlers, are curious and often put objects in their mouths. If these toys remain on the shelves, our curious little ones face an increased risk of exposure to lead, mercury, or cadmium,” said Assemblywoman McCann Stamato (D-Hudson). “The bill we advanced underscores New Jersey’s commitment to protecting children by upholding the highest standards of child safety.”
The bill also outlines specific penalties that will be set in place in order to respond to violations, including fines of up to $20,000 and potential imprisonment for subsequent offenses. In addition, violations could lead to cease-and-desist order issued by the Attorney General, punitive damages, and awarding treble damages along with costs to the affected party.
New Bill Prohibiting The Sale Or Manufacturing of Children’s Products Containing Poison Or Other Lethal Contents Clears Assembly Committee
The NJ Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee has approved legislation that would prohibit the sale or manufacturing of children’s food products or toys that contain poison or any other lethal materials that pose an unequivocal and imminent threat to children and/or adults who consume or use these deadly products.
“Exposure to posionous and other lethal content during childhood, or adolescence, or adulthood for that matter, creates a specific concern for humans of all ages,” said sponsor, NJ Assemblyman Greg Smartfeld, “especially when the poisonous content is swallowed or ingested into the body and into the internal organs.”
“By imposing strict regulations and enforcing immediate recalls of the deadly and poisonous products, we are taking proactive measures to ensure that our children reach adulthood,” Mr. Smartfeld said, “and that adults who partake in their childrens’ meals, delicacies and snacks, or play with their childrens’ toys, remain among the living.”
The bill also outlines specific penalties that will be set in order to respond to violations and to penalize manufacturers who insist on filling their products with poison before releasing the products to the public for mass consumption.