Alliance Position Statements
LD 2048
|  | Statement of the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine
In response to the announcement of LD 2048, An Act to Protect Children’s Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children’s Products
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The future looks brighter and healthier for Maine kids today. With the introduction of this new legislation, today’s generation of Maine kids now has a chance to be spared needless exposure to dangerous toxic chemicals in their toys, bottles, shampoo, and other everyday products found in most homes.
We can’t wait for the federal government to catch up with the advances being made in states across the country, in the European Union, and elsewhere. The recent wave of toy recalls has revealed gaping holes in the federal safety system for consumer products. Known hazardous chemicals are still on the market and thousands more remain untested.
With no adequate system in place to regulate or restrict toys made in the United States or abroad, it’s time for Maine to act. The best science is available and the evidence is growing daily that these chemicals are linked to reproductive problems, learning disabilities, and cancer. This bill would focus on the already known worst chemicals and require their use in children’s products sold in Maine to be disclosed. We shouldn’t expect anything less for our kids.
When safer alternatives to toxic chemicals exist, it would be irresponsible not to substitute them. In fact, there are effective and affordable alternatives to many hazardous chemicals already in widespread use. This bill would make sure these safer alternatives are used in toys and other children’s products sold in Maine.
Maine parents and consumers are currently left in the dark when it comes to getting information about hazardous chemicals in the products they buy. Chemical companies aren’t required to test their chemicals and manufacturers aren’t required to list the chemical component of their products. But it’s not just consumers – retailers of consumer products, including many small businesses in Maine, have found themselves without information and stuck in the middle of this broken system. This bill would provide much needed information to both consumers and retailers so they would each know what they are buying.
The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine applauds Representative Pingree and the bill’s co-sponsors for their leadership and commitment to making toys and other children’s products in Maine safe from known toxic chemicals. This bill is a simple and common sense first step that will help fix our broken chemical safety system and improve the health of Maine children.
We urge the Maine Legislature to help protect our children by passing this legislation.
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LD 2048 | Page 1 of 1 | LD 2048 |
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