Business groups derail consumer protection law, for now

A consumer protection law aimed at guarding children from high levels of lead and phthalates in toys and other products won’t be enforced for another year.

The product safety law was set to go into effect on Feb. 10. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted Friday to delay enforcement for a year, according to an LA Times story. The law will still require manufacturers to lower the amounts of lead and phthalates used in products, but the government will not require products to be tested for another year.

This gives consumers no indication about whether the products they are purchasing actually comply with the new safety standards.

The CPSC vote came in the wake of massive pressure from business groups, who complained that the expense of the testing was too great. Small businesses have been particularly adamant, saying the law would lead them to bankruptcy. Many in the business community are relieved for the yearlong reprieve. Others, like Wal-Mart and Toys R Us, prepared in advance and are already testing products and are in compliance with the law, according to a story in the Washington Post.

Lead has been linked to brain damage and learning disabilities in children. Phthalates, which are a common ingredient in plastic products, have been linked to reproductive problems.