Mattel Given Okay to test own products

[Nicoleta01]

Toy-makers, clothing manufacturers and other companies selling products for young children are submitting samples to independent laboratories for safety tests. But the nation's largest toy maker, Mattel, isn't being required to do the same.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently, and quietly, granted Mattel's request to use its own labs for testing that is required under a law Congress passed last summer in the wake of a rash of recalls of toys contaminated by lead. Six of those toys were produced by Mattel Inc., and its subsidiary Fisher-Price.

The new law sets strict limits for lead, lead paint and chemicals known as phthalates. It mandates third-party testing for companies, big and small, making products geared for children 12 and under.

"It's really ironic that the company that was a principal source of the problem" is now getting favorable treatment from the government, said Michael Green, executive director of the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, Calif.

Mattel is getting a competitive advantage, Green said, because smaller companies must pay independent labs to do the tests. Testing costs can run from several hundred dollars to many thousands, depending on the test and the toy or product.

Mattel says it demonstrated to the CPSC that its products go through rigorous safety tests. Spokeswoman Lisa Marie Bongiovanni also said Mattel has an appropriate "firewall" in place to ensure test results are protected from corporate influence.

"We have extremely qualified people who work feet away from our production lines," Bongiovanni said. "It allows us to do more testing than any other toy company out there."

Lead can cause irreversible brain damage. The six Mattel-related recalls in 2007 involved more than 2 million toys. They were part of a slew of recalls by several dozen companies. The recalls frightened parents and pressure came to bear on Congress to pass the new law, known as CPSIA. Mattel and Fisher-Price have not had any lead recalls since.

In June, Mattel agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for violating the lead paint ban.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/27/ap/politics/main5269286.shtml

Wow, how pathetic. Their products were part of the lead scare last year, and now, they get to test their own stuff. It's unfair for competitors and dangerous seeing how much outcry there was because of them.
Only one of their labs are in the U.S, so good luck with set standards for testing there. The fact this was kept "quiet" is even more outrageous. :/

 

[H-con]

Yeah, this is just wrong. Independent testers are needed in order to make sure toys actually are safe.

 

[Netto Azure]

Tsk...I agree quite an unfair advantage against it's competitors.

But meh, Government inspectors are already stretched to the limit...any options? =/

 

[The Big Al]

We could stop buying our stuff China and build them hear where the standards are part of the production process.

Anyway, deregulation at its finest. I'm actually glad I'm not a kid anymore and, if I have any of my own, I won't be buying from Mattel as long as this practice continues.

 

[Omotenium]

Forget lead. Anyone remember those Hot Wheels that got shot by rubber band guns? So dangerous...

 

[$aturn¥oshi]

A lot of companies test their own products. It's no more dangerous than letting someone else do it.

 

[Dewgong Reign]

Only a few products were recalled...

But I doubt these guys are scared of lawsuits. I guess I'm pretty nuetral on this...