Westchester County Executive Signs Bill to ban Toxic Toys from Store Shelves

After the release of our report in Westchester County documenting the presence of dangerous chemicals and heavy metals in children’s toys and products, County Legislative Majority Leader Catherine Borgia announced she would be introducing a law to ban seven of the most toxic chemicals from children’s products, and the County Board of Legislators quickly got to work. After introducing a bill to prevent the sale of infant and children’s products that include eight harmful toxic chemicals it sailed through unanimously on Monday, May 11th.

On May 14th the bill went to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino who signed it into law. After signing the bill, Astorino said: ”Westchester is proud to lead on this issue to protect children. This is also in the best interests of those in the toy business, and the 12-month public education plan that’s part of this law is a fair approach to getting those eight harmful toxic chemicals off the shelves.”

“Toxic chemicals have no place in children’s toys, and they should not be on store shelves for sale,” said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. “I applaud County Executive Astorino, bill sponsor Catherine Borgia and the Westchester County Board of Legislators for sending a clear message to parents that they deserve to know what dangers are lurking in the products they bring home.”

Our work continues at the state and local level to get toxic chemicals out of children’s toys and products.