Congress looks into Mattel after recalls

Updated: 1:20 p.m. ET Sept. 7, 2007

NEW YORK - Mattel’s Chief Executive Robert Eckert is expected to testify in separate congressional hearings the next two weeks about the company’s procedures alerting federal regulators of major toy recalls.

In just over a month, Mattel Inc., the world’s largest toy maker, has announced three major recalls due to concerns about excessive lead paint in Chinese-made toys the company sold.

Hearings in the House and the Senate are expected to examine Mattel’s dealings with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversees product safety and recalls, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Lawmakers are also expected to focus on the commission’s budget, enforcement practices and record in identifying toys with lead paint and other defects. At least two commission members are also scheduled to testify.

A Senate Appropriations subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is slated to hold a hearing Sept. 12, while the commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Sept. 19, the Journal article said.

Recall information Are your kids' toys safe? To find out if a product you own has been recalled, you can try searching the  Consumer Product Safety Commission’s database here. Concerned parents and caregivers also can sign up to received an e-mail alert when a new product recall is made public. To sign up, click here. To find out if a toy you own was part of the Mattel recall, and get information about obtaining a voucher for the cost of the product, click here.

A call by The Associated Press seeking comment from Mattel was not immediately returned.

Mattel announced Tuesday it was recalling 800,000 toys, including 675,000 accessories for Barbie dolls. Part of that recall included 90,000 units of GeoTrax locomotive line and about 8,900 Big Big World 6-in-1 Bongo Band toys, both sold under the company’s Fisher-Price brand name.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based company’s second recall was announced Aug. 14 for 19 million toys worldwide. Mattel’s first recall involving lead paint was on Aug. 1 for 1.5 million preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo. That recall involved almost 1 million toys sold in the U.S. between May and August.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM CONSUMER NEWS

Consumer News Section Front

Mattel CEO faces his toughest challenge yet Congress looks into Mattel after recalls Mattel recalls may help some toy makers Spam nuisance spreads to text messaging Credit card companies tweaking terms, offers Barbie accessories part of latest Mattel recall U.S. probes Mattel disclosures before recall 10 Tips: Birthday parties that won’t break the bank Toy recall mess leaves parents frustrated Poll: Americans share blame for China recalls Consumer News Section Front   Add Consumer News headlines to your news reader: