China Vows To Stop Using Lead In Toys

China agreed to stop using lead paint on toys exported to the United States today -- nearly 30 years after the U.S. first banned lead paint on toys. "All exporters, including China, have an obligation to comply with U.S. law when exporting to this country," Donald Mays, Senior Director of Product Safety Planning and Technical Administration for Consumers Union, said in a statement emailed to the press. "The flurry of recent recalls has undermined confidence in the safety of toys. Parents need to trust the toys they buy won't harm their children." The flurry of recent toy recalls, due primarily to toxic lead paint, will culminate Wednesday in Senate hearings at which the executive of major toy makers and retailers will testify. The Consumers Union will also testify. The publisher of Consumer Reports has advocated for a system that makes producers, importers, distributors, and retailers accountable for the products they import and sell in the U.S. It also wants the Consumer Product Safety Commission to be given enough resources to conduct additional inspections and assess penalties for safety violations. According to a recent New York Times report, the agency has a single employee responsible for testing toys suspected of having safety defects. Over-exposure to lead can lead to permanent brain damage, including the lowering of basic intelligence. That's why the U.S. banned lead in paint, gas and toys decades ago. It has been used as a cheaper substitute for other paints in China, and American toy makers seeking to boost profits have increasingly relied on Chinese factories to manufacture toys. Related Stories New Blog Details Lead Jewelry Recalls