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Some Stores Don't Have To Test For Lead In Toys

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Jan 11, 2009 5:44 pm US/Mountain

Some Stores Don't Have To Test For Lead In Toys

Reporting
Michelle Griego
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) ― Starting Feb. 10 retailers will have to test all children's products for lead.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was signed into law last year after hundreds of thousands of toys were recalled. But there are exceptions to the law.

Elke Prado has owned a children's consignment store in Littleton for almost three years. Business has been good, but for awhile she was worried about its future.

"I was like, 'Oh my God,'" Prado said. "I had two sleepless nights."

When an act was signed into law last year requiring all retailers to test their children's items for lead, she thought her store may not survive.

"They were talking that we would have to get a lead gun which costs $60,000 and scans every single item in the store," Prado said.

It's a steep price for a small business.

"I got in touch with all the other consignment store owners in my neighborhood they were in the same boat as me."

Prado took action, sending a letter to her congressman and emailing 500 of her customers.

"I keep them informed as well as they can write to their congressman like I did."

Consignment stores rely on used items coming in, in turn; families rely on the stores for good prices.

"I have a lot of grandparents. How they can do it in the economy right now?"

Last week federal regulators decided thrift stores and consignment stores would not be required to make sure their products meet the lead limits. But that didn't stop Prado from trying. She says she will steer clear of items that could contain lead.

"We are already looking at a lot of the quality and making sure things are not on the recall list."

Parents can help too.

"Go with the stuff that can't be put in their mouth; plastic items that can't be broken, painted wood."

Arc Thrift Stores says they have pulled toys made by Fisher Price or Mattel and will continue to monitor recall lists, making sure those items are not in their stores.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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