Safer Together: CPSC and CBP Collaborate to Keep Unsafe Toys Off Store Shelves

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are joining forces this holiday season to keep kids safe and stop dangerous and violative toys from reaching kids' hands. CPSC's and CBP's cooperative work to detect and detain shipments of toys and children's products at the ports from coast to coast helps to create a safer marketplace for holiday shoppers. In addition to inspections at U.S. ports, CPSC also enforces strong safety standards and trains manufacturers at home and overseas about safety requirements.

During the past four years, CPSC and CBP stopped more than 8 million units of about 4,500 different types of toys and children's products due to safety hazards or the failure to meet federal safety standards. Stopped shipments have included lead, small parts, sharp points and labeling requirement violations. The good news for shoppers is that toy recalls have continued to decline from 172 in fiscal year 2008 (with 19 involving high levels of lead), to 24 in fiscal year 2016 (with only one involving a lead violation). Toys were recalled for defects that could cause choking, mechanical hazards and fire hazards posing a threat of injury to a child.  

A new report, released today by CPSC, indicates that there were an estimated 185,500 toy-related, emergency department-treated injuries and 11 deaths in 2015 to children younger than 15 years old. Riding toys, specifically non-motorized scooters, were the toy category associated with the most injuries and 45 percent of toy-related deaths in 2015. Most of the toy-related injuries involved cuts and bruises, with the head and face being the most commonly affected areas.

"Children are our most vulnerable consumers, and as a parent of two boys, I understand what parents and caregivers are concerned about when they go shopping during the holidays," said CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye. "CPSC's commitment to working alongside CBP to stop shipments of dangerous toys before they reach kids can go a long way to help your holiday gifts be a source of joy, rather than tragedy."

"Protecting consumers from unsafe imported products is always a priority for CBP and our collaboration with CPSC and other Federal agencies is one of the biggest assets to CBP's efforts", said Brenda Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs & Border Protection Office of Trade.  "Federal agencies working hand-in-hand, as occurs at the Commercial Targeting & Analysis Center, is a more effective way to wisely utilize Federal resources to protect consumers."

Here are some safety tips for consumers to keep in mind this holiday season:

• Magnets – Children's magnetic toys are covered by a strong safety standard that aims to prevent magnets from being swallowed. High-powered magnet sets that do not meet CPSC's lifesaving standard are not permitted.
• Balloons - Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than 8 years old. Discard torn balloons immediately. 
• Small balls and other toys with small parts - For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking. 
• Scooters and other riding toys - Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times, and they should be sized to fit. 

Once gifts are open:

• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings. 
• Battery charging should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any mechanism to prevent overcharging. 

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: 301-504-7908
Spanish: 301-504-7800

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov