New legislation, The Kid Safe Chemical Act, introduced into Congress yesterday by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) has recently garnered significant attention and can be great news from families all over the country if passed. Currently there are over 80,000 chemicals used in various consumer products including children’s toys and personal care, most of which are not tested for safety. In fact, only around 200 are actually proven safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the bill passes, any chemicals or ingredients used in children’s products will have to be proven safe and approved by the EPA before the products can go to market. Considering the recent press related to the potential toxicity of Bisphenol-A in baby bottles and the lining of formula cans, this legislation is way overdue and will allow the United States to finally catch up to the same child product safety standards already enforced in Europe. Please show your support for this legislation by sending a letter of support to your representative.
While the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act is definitely a step in the right direction for safer children’s products, it is important to note that the science behind all of this legislation needs to be updated as well to ensure true safety. Current animal test models are archaic and imperfect, and improperly tested chemicals are just as dangerous as untested ones. However, there is hope: a report was recently produced, entitled “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and Strategy,” which outlined the necessary steps to improve chemical testing and guarantee that chemicals are more accurately and precisely tested. A revised Kid-Safe Chemicals Act that includes language enforcing more human-relevant, non-animal chemical toxicity testing methods is what means safer children’s products.