Toy sellers set standards ahead of legislation

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The nation's biggest toy sellers are requiring suppliers to meet new standards that limit the amount of lead, other metals and compounds in toys and children's products, getting ahead of federal legislation.

The House and Senate have passed versions of a wide-ranging bill to overhaul the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bill contains language that would toughen current standards for products used by children.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said yesterday that the nation's largest retailer crafted its requirements so they meet or exceed standards in the working legislation. The bill has not yet moved to a conference committee, where the House and Senate would work out differences between versions of the bill.

"We gave these guidelines to these suppliers back in January and February when making new orders for this fall," O'Brien said. Wal-Mart, the top toy seller in the United States, said products meeting the new standards would be on the shelves for the holiday season.

Toys R Us Inc. also imposed tougher standards for its suppliers for orders placed around the start of the year. A spokeswoman for Target Corp., the nation's No. 2 discounter, said the company distributed new specifications for store-branded products in April and that, after Jan. 1, only products meeting updated standards would be on the shelves.

Target is also phasing out the use of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.

Millions of toys were recalled last year over concerns about lead and other hazards, some linked to medical and developmental problems in children.

Wal-Mart, of Bentonville, Ark., told its suppliers to reduce the amount of phthalates, a chemical used to soften plastics. The updated Wal-Mart requirement matches rules in California, standards Toys R Us and Target say they will also meet. The California rules limit phthalates to 0.1 percent.