During committee debate tomorrow, Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a long-time consumer advocate, plans to offer an amendment that would require the CPSC to create a publicly searchable database containing reports serious injury or death or risk of serious injury or death from unsafe products, empowering parents to find out about potential hazards so they do not put their children at risk.

“Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear more news about hazardous chemicals in toys being sold in stores across out country. Americans buying these products for their children, grandchildren or households should not have to wait months or years to find out that someone has died or been seriously injured. Instead, I want to give them access to specific reports from doctors, hospitals, manufacturers or other individuals about injuries or risk of injury from faulty or unsafe products,” said Rep. Markey.

“The searchable database I’m proposing will empower the public by enabling mothers and fathers to find out whether a product they may be considering for their child could pose a risk – without waiting the months or years it could take for CPSC to take action.”

Tomorrow morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a legislative mark-up of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act. One of the amendments Rep. Markey plans to offer would require the CPSC to create a publicly searchable database that will allow consumers to access specific reports CPSC obtains from doctors, hospitals or other individuals of serious injury or death, or risk of serious injury or death that may be due to a faulty or unsafe product. It would also require manufacturers to submit similar reports they receive to the CPSC for publication in the database.

The database would include a disclaimer stating the reports are provided for informational purposes only and that the Commission has not investigated the report and cannot vouch for its accuracy, so that no one will confuse a single report from a consumer with a formal recall by the CPSC.

Meanwhile, the Ecology Center along with the national Center for Health, Environment and Justice, released the results of their testing of 1,200 popular children’s toys for toxic chemicals today. Only 28 per cent of the products tested did not contain any lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC. More information about the report is available at www.HealthyToys.org.

“As the holidays approach, parents should not have to play ‘Toy Box Roulette’, unsure of whether the toys they choose could harm their children. A database of product reports would be an important step toward helping parents and their children enjoy a fun, safe holiday free from toxic toys,” concluded Rep. Markey.