Mattel CEO Answers Questions On Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON D.C., – TheCEO of Mattel and the head of the Federal Consumer Product Safey Commission were on Capitol Hill Wednesday to answer questions concerning the inspection of imported toys.
Members of Congress say this country’s parents have a right to be concerned now that 86% of U.S. toys are imported from China. Mattel recalled millions of toys this summer tainted with toxic levels of lead paint. The Barbies and Batmans may be off the shelf, but the recalls have not resolved the fears of parents and lawmakers.
Parents play toy box roulette with each toy, wondering if there’s lead in it. Over time small amounts of lead paint can damage a child’s brain; in high doses it can be deadly. The chairman of the world’s largest toy maker insists his company is committed to safety. “Our standards were ignored. We were let down and we let you down.” More than 80% of toys sold in theU.S. are made in China.
Lawmakers accuse Mattel of compromising safety, at the expense of American children. They’re also critical of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which they say is underfunded, understaffed and unprepared. “Agressive is about the last word I’d use for the CPSC. The agency has seen two decades of budget cuts. Right now, they have a staff of about 400; they say they need to double that to be more effective.”
Last week, theCPSC reached an agreement with its Chinese counterpart to eliminate the use of lead paint in toys bound for the U.S. Wednesday, the head of the agency says she intends to hold their feet to the fire.
