NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City Councilman Eric Gioia is calling on retailers to take poisonous toys off the shelves in advance of the legislation that forces them to do so on February 10, 2009.
New federal legislation does not allow retailers to sell toys with high levels of phthalates and lead. However, it goes into affect well after the holiday shopping season.
Gioia first introduced the legislation in 2007 which was aimed as banning New York City retailers from selling these toxic toys.
The Queens Councilman, who is also the Chairman of the Council Committee on Oversight and Investigations, also asks retailers to not stockpile the dangerous toys.
A survey taken by Gioia's office found that toys that will be banned in February are still available in New York City toy stores.
Gioia highlighted several toys that parents should avoid:
- Beginner Band Set – 7 piece set
- Leapster2 / Wall.E
- Disney Fairies Fold-out Chair & Sleeping Pad
- 4 Necklaces made by Unique
- Totally Me! Dressy Rainbow Jewelry
- 8 Mini Twist Up Crayons
Here are some tips to parent's who are going to buy toys this holiday season:
- Check to see if soft plastic toys are marked phthalate-free," "PVC-free" or "EU compliant," or have a CE mark (which indicates that the product is compliant with European Union regulations and therefore phthalate-free.)
- Teethers and pacifiers sold in the United States are supposed to be phthalate-free already, but parents should only purchase them from trustworthy retailers.
- Read labels closely while checking out toys to make sure toxic chemicals such as xylene, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate aren't present.
- Plastic softeners in plastics can give toys the "new smell," but strong fragrances can provoke allergies or asthma.
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