Edwards calls for tougher scrutiny of imported toys

[JohnLocke]

Edwards calls for tougher scrutiny of imported toys
By Peter Kaplan--Reuters
Friday, August 3, 2007
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday called for tougher scrutiny of imported toys in the wake of a huge recall of lead-tainted toys from China.

The former North Carolina senator said the government should take steps to crack down on "unsafe trade," citing the recall on Wednesday of 1.5 million Chinese-made Fisher-Price toys.

"The recall of Fisher-Price toys highlights the need for smarter, safer trade and consumer protection policies in this country," Edwards said in a statement.

Specifically, Edwards raised the idea of stricter penalties for safety violations and possible independent testing of imported toys. He also called for changes at the Consumer Product Safety Commission that he said were needed to put the federal agency "back on the side of consumers ..."

An Edwards spokeswoman said the candidate would provide further details of his proposal on Monday.
(...)
The recalled toys made for Mattel Inc's Fisher- Price unit include popular preschool characters such as Elmo and Big Bird, along with dozens of other items.

They were made by a contract manufacturer in China using a non-approved paint pigment containing lead, Mattel said on Wednesday.

Lead paint has been linked to health problems in children, including brain damage.
(...)
Toxic ingredients were also found in Chinese fish and toothpaste exports, while the deaths of patients in Panama were blamed on improperly labeled Chinese chemicals mixed into cough syrup.

Chinese-made toy trains were recalled in the United States in June because some may have contained lead paint. In all, the safety commission has issued six different recalls of Chinese- made toys for excessive lead levels since March.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0334999420070803?sp=true

[NotGivingUp]

1. Why isn't Edwards or anybody else talking about how many people have been killed off by American

corporations? Nope, ain't gonna happen. THey'll just keep pretending like they're really doing something to protect you and me. They are totally full of shit. They are doing nothing to stop Monsanto...nothing to stop big pharma...nothing to stop our sick medical system...nothing to stop all the food companies stuffing more and more crap into our food. They are all full of shit.

[JohnLocke]

2. Kick (nt).