Gov. David Paterson just announced that he submitted a “safe toys” bill to the Legislature. The legislation would protect New York kids from unsafe toys and durable products like cribs, car seats and high chairs that may be available even after they have been recalled. 

The legislation would address that problem by barring manufacturers, distributors and retailers from continuing to sell children’s products that have been recalled.

Last summer, the state Consumer Protection Board and other state agencies did toy recall sweeps to investigate compliance. About 400 stores of the 2,800 or so visited and contacted had been selling one or more of the recalled items. Some said they had received some form of recall notice and had removed the products from their shelves, but others said they did not get any notification from the supplier or manufacturer about the recall.

Often recalled products are never returned, remaining in homes, attics and on the shelves of discount and secondhand stores.

Currently, there is no prohibition against the sale or distribution of children’s toys and durable products that have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nor is there an effective system for notifying individuals of such recalls, according to Paterson. There is no requirement for labeling products that contain lead, magnets or potentially hazardous liquids.

Under the bill, manufacturers would have to include product safety owner cards with the products at the time of original purchase. Manufacturers and importers of products would have to notify consumers, distributors, retailers, the state attorney general and the consumer protection board of any recalls or warnings.

Commercial dealers must remove recalled products from shelves and Web sites, contact the initial buyer if possible and post recall notices and warnings in a conspicuous manner. Use of lead paint, magnets and liquids in children’s products would have to be disclosed.