FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            Aug. 31, 2007

SPANO ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF
CHILDREN’S TOYS AND JEWELRY WITH LEAD AT COUNTY-SPONSORED EVENTS

Also calls on federal government to ban importation of these toys to protect children

Stressing that there is “no acceptable level of lead exposure for a child,” County Executive Andy Spano has banned the sale or distribution of toys with lead at any county government-sponsored event.

“I have a statutory responsibility to protect children,” said Spano. “We have ordered stores to remove those Chinese-made toys with lead that have been recalled. We are  committed to protecting the children and to do our  part to ensure, where possible, that toys, jewelry and other similar items intended for use by children under the age of six containing lead products are not being distributed. This executive order is designed to accomplish that.”

Spano’s executive order applies to all toys and jewelry intended for young children, not just those items that are the subject of national or state recall. Specifically, it orders the following:

· All county departments and offices must ensure that no toys, jewelry or other similar items intended for children under 6 are sold or distributed at county government-sponsored events. The order is especially directed to the county Department of Parks and to Playland.

· All vendors of toys, jewelry or other similar items intended for use by children under the age of six who sell such items to the county must affirm in writing that any such toys, jewelry or other similar items which may be sold or distributed to children under the age of six by the county are lead free.

All promoters of events to be sponsored by the county must also affirm in writing that they will ensure that the groups who participate at such events will not sell or distribute any toys, jewelry or other similar items intended for use by children under the age of six unless such items are lead free.                                                                

In a related development, Spano has also written to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission urging it to adopt a rule banning the importation of all toys and children’s jewelry that contain lead.

“Due to the urgency and widespread potential hazards, I further urge you to proceed with this matter as quickly as possible,” Spano said in his letter to Nancy A. Nord, acting chairman of the commission.

 Spano noted that between Aug. 21 and 24, following the recall of the Chinese toys, inspectors from the departments of consumer protection and health visited 81 stores and located 84 recalled items that were on the shelves at 10 different stores. In every instance, the store manager immediately removed the items from public display.

“Your agency may wish to avail itself of our ‘troops on the ground’ to assure that such dangerous products are promptly removed from the shelves at the local store level,” he said in the letter. “I understand that you have utilized the New York Consumer Protection Board as a contract agency for such purposes. I suggest that you explore a similar relationship with the County of Westchester and other local consumer protection agencies around the country. The ability of local inspectors to make immediate on-site inspections has proven to be an effective method of ensuring that consumers are protected against dangerous, recalled products.”

In addition, Spano expressed concern about media reports suggesting that there is a severe shortage of investigative staff at the CPSC. “I would strongly urge you to pursue all available avenues to increase your investigative staff to protect our consumers against recalled products,” he said.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Westchester’s federal delegation.