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Take
toxic toys off the shelves,
National Council of Churches asks
 Washington,
December 18, 2008 ̶
In a statement issued today, the National Council of Churches urged
the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to enforce new
legislation banning the use of phthalates in products made for
children.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act takes effect February 10,
but
the CPSC has announced it will allow retailers to sell toys
containing the banned phthalates past that date.
“As Christians, we work to care for the ‘least of these,’ especially
children,” said Cassandra Carmichael, National Council of Churches
eco-justice program director. “Protecting children, who are
disproportionately harmed, from toxic substances is an important
ministry of the church.”
Cancer, early puberty in girls, defects in the reproductive tract of
male infants, obesity, and learning disabilities have all been
tentatively linked to phthalates. The American Chemical Council is
dismissive of concerns about the safety of plastics, insisting that
there is not adequate evidence to link plastics to detrimental
health effects.
In support of the Council’s urging, dozens of letters to the editor
have been submitted from people of faith around the
country.
Information about the Council’s environmental health program and the
“Christian Principles for a Healthy Body and Spirit can be found
online at
www.nccecojustice.org
Carmichael's letter to Acting Chair Nancy A. Nord of the Consumer
Products Safety Commission follows:
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
December 18, 2008
Dear Nancy A. Nord,
In this season of Advent, we, as Christians, stand with hope and
great expectations as we commemorate the birth of Christ. As
many children wait eagerly to celebrate this holiday season,
parents will have to work extra hard to know what children’s
holiday products are safe. We are thankful that the Congress and
President Bush recognized the importance of protecting children
and future generations by passing the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act (CPSIA). This legislation gives the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mandate to set strong limits on
lead and establish a precautionary ban on six classes of
phthalates in children’s products. Unfortunately, the CPSC has
chosen to interpret this legislation in a way that weakens the
very intention of this law by leaving children’s products with
phthalates on the shelves even after the legislation goes into
effect. The CPSC’s current interpretation of the bill will leave
the most vulnerable members of our society—our precious
children—at risk.
As Christians, we hear a moral call to care for the “least of
these” and for future generations. We are also called to treat
our bodies as holy temples and therefore be mindful of what we
put into them. Last spring we, along with our partner
organizations in state councils of churches and interfaith
organizations, created “Christian Principles for a Healthy Body
and Spirit” to express our Christian concern for toxic chemicals
that jeopardize the health of God’s Creation and vulnerable
populations such as children and pregnant women. There is
scientific evidence that links phthalates exposure with damage
to children’s reproductive development and other conditions,
such as cancer, later in life. This threat to children
undermines the very Christian principles that we set forth.
We call upon the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce
the original intent of this bill to remove children’s products
with phthalates from store shelves by February 10.
Sincerely,
Cassandra Carmichael
Director, Eco-Justice Program Office
National Council of Churches USA
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NCC News contact:
Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228,
NCCnews@ncccusa.org
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