Circulation. The fcc has a limited role to play in mergers. When a transaction comes before us we take a look and say is there a transaction specific harm. If there is we tried to find it nearly tailored for that harm one thing you saw them do is feed mergers as a Christmas Tree we could hang whatever agenda you want on it. Thats not my approach where the approach that the fcc should take. Watch tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. As the Holiday Season gets underway, Education Firm hosted a discussion about the annual report on toy safety. This is about 40 minutes. Thank you for coming. My name is mike and i am the Consumer Campaign director with u. S. Public Research Group fun. We are national nonpartisan nonprofit organization. Join today by doctor lenore and rachel, general counsel of legislative director. After comments will open for questions. Today were here to release the 32nd annual toy safety report, trouble in toyland. The message is clear, we need to protect her young from dangerous toys and parents and consumers stay to watch out for common hazards. Over the past 30 years a report has led to an hundred 50 recalls and actions to take dangerous toys off the shelves. When our researchers went out looking for potential hazards we found toys and products that could harm her poison a child. We found these in National Chains across the country. A report also list the over 30 toys that were recalled by the Consumer ProductSafety Commission. Parents should compare the list with what they are ready have been the home to make sure they dont have recalled toys. Recalls for large products like cars, you have people were notified by the manufacturer. Thats not always the case with toy recalls. Thats why we want people to check for them. In 2008 policymakers passed a law that revamped the Consumer ProductSafety Commission and gave it tools to better protect kids. This includes speeding up recalls with a database called safer products. Gov. Banning heavy metals such as lead and chemicals in many childrens products and toys and requiring thirdparty testing of many toys. Some products are still out there that dont adhere to the standards and standards that need to be strengthened to protect our kids. Their six categories of toys we caution parents and caregivers about. That is toxic toys, data collecting toys, choking hazards, magnets, toys and batteries that can overheat and catch fire, and overly excessively noisy toys. Some of the most dangerous toys out there are invisible. They contain toxic chemicals. Lets talk about lead. We about the dangers posed by lead. It has been banned in paints and 78. It is a powerful neurotoxin that causes behavioral problems and lowers iq. We sent out toys we purchased at National Retailers across the country and sent them off to a Certified Laboratory to see if they had led in them. There is a legal limit of 100 parts per million of lead and lab results. Our lab results show theres led excessive lead in some of these toys, the Fidget Spinners. This that we got at target contains 33000 parts per million of lead which is 330 times the legal amount of lead. We found another one called the that contains 1300 parts per million which also far exceeds the legal limit. On november 10 target announced they are removing the products from the toy shelves. But at first they balked at our request. They cited a role that states that general use products directed to consumers 14 and up to not have to adhere to the legal limits of childrens products 12 and under. Kids definitely play with Fidget Spinners regardless of the label. At the time of the testing, target. Com recommended this Fidget Spinner for kids six and up. We commend target for taking these dangerous toys off their website store shelves. Now it is time for the supply of these toys to issue an official recall. But taking them off the shelves no new person will be exposed. But we need to protect those who already have the and that is why we need to recall. Also, in order to protect children and future they need to revise the loose and arbitrary standards for age labeling of products. Lets talk about another toxic call phthalates which is a chemical used to make plastics softer. The problem is its links to reproductive and developmental problems in children. We want to apply the t pst for issuing a rule less month that bans any toy or childrens product with over 1000 parts per million. Three phthalates were abandoned 2008 and weve been calling for them to be in the other five. Like to talk about it a category of toys to keep its debut. In that is internet connected toys that pose a privacy concern. Just this july the fbi issued a stark warning to consider Cyber Security before introducing the internet connected toys that are smart and interactive. The number products is growing daily. Websites, mobile apps and products including childrens watches and toys can track users and collect information on children under the age of 13 who are currently protected by law called the childrens Online Privacy protection act. An example is the stall call my friend kayla which we purchased at walmart. The problem with kayla is shes already banned in germany for privacy violations. Several consumer groups have filed the complaint over privacy concerns. There alleging that she can be accessed on a bluetooth connection without a password. She can be used as a headset, a speaker and microphone. A stranger could use kayla to spy a new kid and talk to your kid. Thats not creepy, i dont know what is. That is in fact very creepy. Another problem is she also collects answers to questions she asked her child like your name, pets or anything that goes on a website that could be used for any purpose. This is also a violation of existing privacy loss. Now to turn to choking hazards. We dont let toddlers put everything numeral. From 2001 until 2015 there have been at least 114 choking deaths by children. Toys are banned if the toy or any part can fit into the stroke test tube. Toys with small parts intended people between the ages of three and six are required to have a choking hazard warning. Found this golf internally at the dollar tree which has parts in it actually fit into the choate test tube. Does not have the appropriate label. Small balls are subject to more stringent test and small balls that fit into this test cannot be sold to kids under three. Any ball marketed to kids under three has to come with a warning. Two things need to be approved. The small part choate test need to be made larger because children show grantors larger that go over this too. We believe toys not quite balls is still very clearly round should be subject to the test. Especially toy foods because people might think there are actually foods and try to put them in their mouth. The top parents and caregivers theres a reliable test we have a home and its a standard size toilet paper roll. Part of the toy fits into this tube and it is not suitable for children under three. Children can easily inhale plants when trying to blow up and then they get stuck in her throat. Once our leading cause of choking death among children. All balloon packages must contain a label saying they are a choking hazard for children under eight. We found five different types of balloons that have labeling problems. This package of blue and says its not suitable for kids under three but it doesnt have the legally required label saying its a choking hazard for those under eight. We were concerned about highpowered magnates was ritual talk about. So lets talk about overheating batteries. However reports are still a prime example. The issue there was a house fire that took the lives of two young girls. In a firefighter. That was believed to have been caused by a hover board. Last month there is another. Numerous have reports are being taken off the shelves. We are encouraging parents to make sure any hover board has the ul 2272 certification sticker. They want the sticker does not guarantee the hover board might not overheat. Finally what type excessively noisy toys. We have to recall the toy that has been excessively noisy over the last but still a concern. Children have the most to lose from hearing loss. And messes with their vocabulary to learn vocabulary and grammar. One of seven children experienced some hearing loss that could be due in part to children playing with live toys. We want parents to be cautious of toy cell phones because kids put them up to their ears. If you think you have allowed toy at home you can put take over the speaker or take the batteries out. The cpsc has made progress over the past decade protecting our kids. We hope it will continue to do so and congress will give it but it needs to protect our kids. There hazards out there. We believe the small parts choate test need to be made larger. We believe toxic policy in our country needs to be overhauled. There are thousands of chemicals not regulated are not adequately regulated. We strongly urge to together with target bullseye toys and the manufactures of the frigid spinners to issue a recall. You can kids and parents do . You can go to our website to get a report a list of potential hazards. The list of recalled toys and pulled up on the smart phone when youre shopping. Receiver products that go report on the problem youre having. Were going over examples of hazards and toys out there. You still need to be vigilant about other products and toys out there and parents should he deputize warning about internet connected toys. Now like to introduce the dr. Good morning. Im a pediatrician. I mean year represented the American Academy of pediatrics. It is a nonprofit professional organization is 66000 primary care physicians and pediatric specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and wellbeing of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Unintentional injuries remain number one cause of death to injuries in the united states. Is the fifth leading cause of preventable death among newborns under the age of one. We strongly support all efforts to reduce incidence of child unintentional injury. Pediatricians have counsel parents about 20 product safety. Two hazards that concern us are lead and highstrength magnets. First, lead. It can cause serious damage to childrens developing brain. There is no safe lowlevel exposure in children. It has lasting problems in cognitive developmen. The cdc recommends evaluation and intervention. However, all elevated blood levels are concerned. Most children with higher levels are asymptomatic. They could complain of nonspecific symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, headache or constipation. Highpowered magnets give us great concern. Their tiny magnet bulbs or cub cubes. When more than two or swelled their attractive forces allow them to find them across or between different parts of the digestive system. Connections can occur between the stomach and small intestine, the small intestine of the quality. To keep safe we have the following ten tips to help caregivers pick safe toys for children. Number one, read the label. It gives us Important Information of how to use the choate toy and what ages it is safe for. Show your child how to use the toy the right way. Number two, think large. Make sure all parts are larger than your childs mouth. Three, void toys that shoot objects in the air. It can cause serious eye injuries or choking. Number four, void toys that are allowed to prevent damage to your child terry. Five, look for toys are made. Make sure all parts are on tig tight. Cecily machine washable. Take off loose ribbons to avoid strangulation. Number six, by plastic toys that are sturdy. Toys made from thin plastic could break easily. Number seven, void toys with toxic materials that could cause poisoning. Make sure the labels is nontoxic. Number eight avoid high presets and chemical kits for children younger than 12. Make sure others know how to safely handle them. Number nine, electric toys should be ul approved. Check the label. Number ten, became a buying crib toys. Soft objects are objects that can cause increased risk of an entrapment strangulation should be kept out of the crew. Any hanging toys should be out of the babies reach must be removed when your baby can push up or when the baby is five months old, or whatever comes first. A morning. Im rachel, general counsel with Consumer Federation of america. It is a Nonprofit Association of 250 class groups that sought to advance consumer interest through research, advocacy and education. We are proud to release this report, trouble in thailand. The sears highlight hidden hazards continued to pose risks to children. The Consumer ProductSafety Improvement act give new authority to the u. S. Consumer product Safety Commission, or the cpsc. To protect children from unsafe products. Mandatory standards, independent there pretty testing, and increase part inspection step more dangerous toys than ever before from reaching toys shelves. According to consumers purchasing toys online look at the relevant safety warning as they decide what toys to purchase. Helping consumers select the right product. Parish should continue to carefully research and select the safest and most appropriate gift for their children the lists. Manufacturer should ensure they comply with the law continue enforcement to further protect our children. Parents and others can make toys safer by reporting products. And also looking there before product is purchase. Consumers should check to make sure products they own or want to purchase have been recalled 28 toys were recalled in fiscal year 2017. 1,722,008. In 2017 more than 745,000 toys were seized at u. S. Courts for violating standards. The collaborative work with Border Patrol prevented the toys from entering the u. S. Its critical the work continues. Hidden hazards could be working in your home. Its imperative that the products not contain lead, not they found that popular frigid spinners contain high levels of lead. This should not happen. There is no safe level of lead. These have play value for children and are used by choice. They should not pose risk for children targeted the right thing by stopping sale of the products but now they need to recall the products. Serious danger is supposed by highpowered rare earth magnets. Heres an example of a magnet set. These accept play value for children impose hidden hazards. First, its hard to tell if any of these are missing and as explained if more than one of these cysts swallowed the can rip internal tissue posing Serious Health threats. These are appearing in the market again and are available for sale we urge them not to purchase products for children and to work quickly. Cpsc is aware of over 250 incidence of overheating. There have been recent deaths of a several girls in a fire. In addition, we have reports of a burn injuries smoke injuries and more than 4 million in Property Damage related to hover boards. Last week they shoot another seven recalls of these products because the lithiumion battery packs pose a risk of catching fire or exploding. One of these was reissued for may 2017 after 72nd house fire destroyed his townhome. We urge parents and consumers to make sure that there have a board has not been recalled. If youre purchasing new to make sure it does so to have the mark of the new safety standard. We look forward to working with retailers and manufacturers to protect children from hazards and make sure children are safe and holidays and every day. Thank you. Were happy to take any questio questions. What kind of information are they collecting, do they market it later the truth is, theres so much that we dont know we dont know how its being collected. This is an interactive smart doll that will ask your child questions like what is your name, whats your favorite thing that information goes to a cloud there have been hacking of internet connecting toys and clouds earlier this year this has been banned in germany for privacy violations was been the subject of an official complaint because it could violate existing children Privacy Protection we have on the books. To everything positive to say about the toy industry. Theres a lot of gloom and doom be done everywhere warehouse full of toys sows anything positive you can say about it. Over the 30 years because the Consumer ProductSafety Commission has been enforcing child safety laws were in his interposition in regards to frigid spinners [inaudible] also with the passage of the consumer Safety Improvement act will were voluntary toy standards are now mandatory. Products need to be tested to meet that standard which is where consumers that were happening there are examples of things that fall through the cracks the fact that we have a stronger system in safe means fewer and up getting on the market. This shows the power of the rare earth magnet set. My finger is likely thicker of intent so tissue. The child swallows more than one there are so strong and this can rip tissue what is so concerning about this is parents started at all expect the consequences of swallowing more than one of these and its almost impossible for them to tell that to them are missing from the set this is similar to this were graded a little bit higher so the argument was that these were not toys their member in 2008 msn was a he said that all of his friends have these. These had play value. They were used by toys by children and it was a leg in safety were these exceeded safety standards. Its been a complicated legal status. They made them larger so they and also require that the magnets not be that strong. This rule was to struck down by the tenth circus. Now it is going back and we urge them to look at that rural to make sure these pop plums these dont cause of problems. The issue is when toys are shot at other people or unintentional shot in the childs own eyes. They continue to be of concern. Projectile toys could pose harms to children when parents are consider purchasing a gift in addition to the age of the child how the child would likely play with the choice. W