TIA (Toy Industry Association) reviews the claims in 3 reports:
-U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) 2014 “Trouble in Toyland” report
-W.A.T.C.H’s 2014 “10 Worst Toys” list
-Clean and Healthy New York’s 2015 “Toxic Toys in Monroe County” report
which they found to be “misleading” and “fear-mongering”.
Directly from the TIA review:
None of the toys named in these reports have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency charged with overseeing toy safety.
W.A.T.C.H. doesn’t test the toys it claims are unsafe. Their allegations are based on pure conjecture and opinion.
Clean and Healthy New York’s test results are incorrect. Instead of using a Consumer Product Safety Commission-accredited lab, Clean and Healthy NY used an unreliable XRF device to “test” the toys named in its report. When an independent, CPSC-accredited lab tested those same toys that were available at Monroe County retailers, every single toy complied with all federal toy safety standards and requirements.
PIRG also failed to use proper toy testing methods. Nearly 85% of the products named in PIRG’s report were tested at a lab that is not accredited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to do that testing, seriously calling into question the validity of their methods and results.
PIRG cited 29% of the toys in its report for having “near” small parts and “nearly” fitting into the Consumer Product Safety Commission-approved small parts tester to check for choking hazards. The fact remains that if an item passes the small parts test, it’s not a small part … and not a hazard.
Many ‘dangerous’ toys named by PIRG and Clean and Healthy NY aren’t even toys. Including non-toy items – like backpacks, headbands, and towels – in a toy report is disingenuous and creates confusion about the safety of compliant toys. Non-toys are not subject to the same rigorous safety standards as toys.
Founded in 1916, the Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in the toys and youth entertainment industry. TIA is a vigorous supporter of the CPSIA, the federal consumer product safety legislation adopted in 2008, and works year-round with medical experts, consumer groups and government regulators to ensure the safety of children and maintain US toy safety standards. They also educate toy manufacturers on how to comply with these standards and provide consumers with accurate facts about proper toy safety.
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