WHITE HALL – In response to the alarming rash of product recalls this year that have put Michigan consumers at risk, State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) today unveiled a comprehensive plan that will require businesses to quickly remove dangerous products from their shelves and require the Attorney General's Office to take extra precautions to notify consumers of potential threats. The plan also gives Michigan residents full access to justice when they are harmed by hazardous recalled items.
"As Michigan shoppers search for the perfect gifts this holiday season for their loved ones, the last thing they should be concerned about is the threat that their heartfelt presents can hurt their children, family members or best friends," Valentine said. "Our plan will protect Michigan consumers from the millions of product recalls that have our residents worried and have plagued our retailers this year."
The "Contract with Consumers" plan will:
- Require businesses to remove recalled items from their shelves by the beginning of the next business day after a recall is announced. Businesses that don't comply would face fines;
- Require the Attorney General's Office to monitor recalls and determine if further steps must be taken to notify the public, including contacting local media or posting a prominent display in front of the store that features a picture of the product and a description of the risks faced by consumers; and
- Give consumers full access to legal recourse when they are harmed by dangerous recalled products by holding all parties from the assembly line to the checkout line equally responsible.
This year has seen a record number of recalls, according to an Oct. 30 report compiled by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine¹ . One million cribs that can separate and strangle infants, 175 million pieces of children's jewelry made with hazardous levels of lead, and 30 million pounds of ground beef contaminated with the E. coli bacteria all appeared on the list of recalls for 2007, the report said.
In the past month since that report was released, 175,000 Curious George plush dolls were recalled due to excessive levels of lead, 4.2 million Aqua Dots bead kits were recalled because a chemical contained in the coating on the beads can convert into the toxic "date rape" drug GHB when ingested, and 235,000 Nike football helmet chin strips were recalled because the chin strap's plastic cup can break as a result of contact, exposing the player to face or head injuries.
In 2006, 467 recalls were announced, and around half of those were for products made in China. Chinese products now represent 60 percent of all product recalls, compared with 36 percent of all product recalls seven years ago . According to testimony given at an Oct. 27 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance , more than 20 million toys manufactured in China were recalled over the summer. China now produces 80 percent of all toys sold in the United States.
"Our 'Contract with Consumers' plan will hold all parties from the assembly line to the checkout line responsible, and will ensure that victims of recalled products are treated properly and fairly for the suffering they have endured," Valentine said. "Knowledge is the most important factor and this plan keeps Michigan's consumers up-to-date on what products are being recalled and what actions are being done about it. Knowing what products are dangerous and which ones are not could make the difference between life and death."
This plan is part of the House's broad approach to protecting consumers from dangerous products. In June, the House passed a plan that virtually eliminates the amount of lead that can be applied to children's toys sold in Michigan. In February, the House passed a package of bills to end the absolute immunity enjoyed by the big drug companies in Michigan when dangerous drugs such as Vioxx harm or kill.
¹ "2007: The Year of the Recall," http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_product_safety/005079.html