New state regs to protect children

Listen to this article

The New York Department of State on Wednesday announced adoption of new consumer protections to shield children under 12 from dangerous and hazardous durable juvenile products and children’s products manufactured, distributed or sold in New York state.

The new consumer protection regulations set requirements for labeling standards, recall notifications and removal of recalled toys and children’s products from the marketplace.

The new protections require manufacturers who introduce durable juvenile products for sale or distribution in New York state to include a product label in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements. They must also include an owner product safety card for consumers to register their purchase. Within 24 hours of issuing or receiving a product recall or warning notification from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the manufacturer must inform all retailers where the products have been delivered of the recall. Consumers who have turned in an owner safety card must also be contacted by the manufacturer.

The regulations will be effective in three months after the notice of adoption. Those found to have violated the new regulation could face the imposition of a fine of up to $5,000 per violation. The department of state will impose penalties of up to $50,000 upon the occasion of a second violation or subsequent violations of these consumer protections.