'An early holiday gift for Michigan families'

“This holiday season, we all want to give gifts that are safe,” Michigan state Sen. Rebekah Warren said Dec. 13 as she introduced legislation that will allow families to learn if children’s products sold in Michigan contain harmful chemicals. “The Safe Children’s Product Act will give families the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions and avoid children’s products that contain harmful chemicals.”

Warren introduced the Safe Children’s Products Act the same day that a report came out of Maine showing hundreds of toys and consumer products still contain harfmul chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).

“As an expectant mom I am thrilled that Senator Warren has taken leadership to give me the information I need to choose safer children’s products for my twin boys,” said Jennifer Canvasser, environmental health organizer for the MNCEH. “This bill is a welcomed holiday gift for Michigan families.”

The MNCEH is a coalition of health professional, health-affected, and environmental organizations from across the state, including the Ecology Center.

Research shows that children’s products and many other everyday household items contain toxic chemicals, including lead, cadmium, endocrine disruptors, and toxic flame retardants.

The Safe Children’s Products Act would require the state to create a list of chemicals of concern in children’s products, based on sound science, and require toy importers and large manufacturers to disclose the presence of chemicals of greatest concern in children’s products.

Many small businesses and manufacturers across Michigan support this type of legislation. Sixteen business owners recently signed a letter urging legislators to support policies like the Safe Children’s Products Act.

We are committed to making products that don't contain nasty chemicals and are thrilled with the introduction of the Safe Children's Products Act,” according to Lyne Downing, vice president of operations for Eco Store USA in Auburn Hills. “We are responding to cosumer demand for safer products and hope the Senate will take swift action to enact this legislation.”