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| Contact: Deborah Sturm Rausch (518) 473-9472 | For Immediate Release: November 2, 2007 |
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NYS CONSUMER PROTECTION BOARD LAUNCHES SAFE TOYS NY PROGRAMRecall Feedback, Advocacy and Children’s Artwork Key to Month-long Commemoration of National Toy Safety Month |
| The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is calling on the public
to participate in and advocate for toy safety as part of its month-long
commemoration of National Toy Safety Awareness Month with the launch of Safe
Toys NY.
“Toys provide some of the most wonderful memories of childhood, but recent recalls and identified hazards have called safety standards and manufacturing oversight into question, said CPB Chairperson and Executive Director Mindy Bockstein. “Governor Spitzer called upon the CPB to take action on behalf of New York consumers. With the launch of Safe Toys NY, we are hoping to raise awareness and at the same time raise the safety standards in the industry.” In an effort to educate and engage the public in learning more about safety standards and recalls, the CPB’s Safe Toys NY campaign offers New Yorkers additional tools, recall information, safety tips and other activities to help them conduct their own safety checks at home and participate in other projects. Activities Calendar With a Safe Toys NY Activity Calendar as a backdrop, the Agency outlined important steps New Yorkers can take to protect themselves and their families when it comes to toy safety. The calendar includes many tips for consumers to follow in an effort to increase awareness of and take action toward enhanced toy safety. “As parents and adults, it is our collective responsibility to make sure that children are playing with safe toys,” Ms. Bockstein continued. “We must learn about and be alert to recalls, search out recalled items that we may own, monitor stores to be sure recalled items are removed from the marketplace and be aware of safety tips.” Recall Feedback Campaign The CPB invites consumers to provide feedback about the current system of recalls, and has established an e-mail address for people to voice their opinions. Product recall notices contain information alerting consumers to a hazardous condition that exists or informing people of harm that may be caused by a toy under recall. Although this information is invaluable for keeping our children safe, it needs to be seen and read in order for it to be effective. The Board is seeking input from consumers on how recall information can be better brought to their attention. Individuals wishing to provide input can write to the CPB at: recallfeedback@nysconsumer.gov. Toy Safety Poster Contest Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in the Toy Safety Poster Contest. Interested students should create original artwork that reflects what toy safety means to them and send it to the CPB no later than November 28, 2007. The posters will be entered into a drawing in one of three categories: kindergarten to 2nd grades, 3rd to 5th grades, and 6th through 8th grades and one New York student from each of these categories will win a United States Savings Bond. The artwork will be displayed and winning posters will be featured in the CPB’s Quarterly Newsletter, The Watchdog. Toy Safety Inventory Checklist Due to the recent increase in recalled toys, the CPB has developed the Toy Safety Inventory Checklist to make it easier for parents, grandparents and other family members to identify and catalog the toys they own. Families, who are looking for enhanced safeguards, can also use this tool to help them research products before they purchase them. People should list and describe the toys, video games or electronics, action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, trucks or cars, board games and/or sporting goods they own in advance, so they can be better prepared in the event of a new recall. Consumer Crusader Program Volunteers are being recruited for the CPB’s Crusader or Jr. Consumer Crusader program that is designed to give adults and children the tools they need to become smarter shoppers and consumer advocates. The program educates New Yorkers about 4 R’s – recalls, refunds, rebates and rainchecks. People can become more empowered shoppers by taking a downloadable checklist into stores to monitor how retailers are posting information about the 4R’s. Max Safetoy The Activity Calendar introduces kids to Max Safetoy, an activist ant who is here to “bug” them about toy safety. Kids will be able to join the Max Safetoy Club in December, during the holiday season when toys are even more of a focus. The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the Do Not Call law; researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission (PSC) and other State and federal agencies. |