Consumer Product Safety

"I will not wait on the federal government to take action; I will investigate and prosecute those selling dangerous products to consumers."

When corporations abuse their power and influence to defraud consumers, when they produce shoddy products or try to sell contaminated food, the Attorney General has the responsibility to defend and protect consumers.  The Attorney General is the "people's lawyer."

Missourians are being bombarded lately with recalls of products that their families use daily, but have been found to be unsafe.  Especially frightening is the recall of over a hundred children's products this year alone.  These recalls represent millions of toys that are in children's hands, and the number is growing.

Most consumer products contain materials produced in countries where oversight and regulatory controls fall far short of U.S. standards. With new trade agreements and the growing global economy, millions of these dangerous products are flooding our stores and threatening the health and safety of our families. One week it was toys, another week it was tires, and before that, we saw poisonous pet foods and toothpaste.

Many consumers aren't aware that product recalls - even when issued by the federal Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) - are voluntary.  Stores are not legally required to remove the hazardous items from their shelves.  Moreover, the CSPC is sorely under funded and does not have the capacity to adequately share all recall information with consumers.  And that leaves families at risk.

It's not enough to leave this in the hands of the federal government.  Missourians expect more.  And they should.  As Attorney General, I will step up to the plate and fill the holes in this system to protect our families and children.

My plan would strengthen Missouri's product safety laws and enhance the power of the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute the sale of unsafe products.

Enact HB 1361, The Missouri Children's Product Safety Act.

Modeled after Illinois' law, the Missouri Children's Product Safety Act would prohibit the sale of all unsafe children's products in Missouri.  It outlines the steps companies must take when a product has been recalled. The act would empower the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute violations.

Increase the efforts of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

I will charge the division's investigators to identify and stop unsafe products from being sold in our state.  The federal government falls short in this area, but under my watch, Missouri will not.

Stop the Sale of all Unsafe Products.

Missouri's Merchandising Practices Act empowers the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute unlawful practices in trade and commerce.  I will introduce legislation expanding the definition of "unlawful practices" to include hazardous products.

Enact the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act.

This act would increase the funding for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) to increase inspections, decrease the amount of time that companies have to respond to recalls, institute a civil penalty for retailers that knowingly sell a recalled product, and increase fines for violations.  In my role as Attorney General, I will call on Congress and the President to enact this legislation.

Click here to visit my Product Safety Zone for Internet resources on product safety.