N.J. may adopt stricter rules for children’s jewelry

Earlier this month, Playmates Toys launched a recall of its children’s jewelry sets that were made in China.
Now, New Jersey lawmakers are hoping to toughen regulations on children’s jewelry sold in the Garden State.

The recent recall of thousands of children’s necklaces containing the heavy metal cadmium and some bracelets containing lead raised lawmakers’ awareness of the need to protect children from the hazardous substances.

Earlier this month, Playmates Toys launched a recall of its children’s jewelry sets that were made in China.

Now, New Jersey lawmakers are hoping to toughen regulations on children’s jewelry sold in the Garden State.

WHYY’s Phil Gregory reports. [audio;100226PGJEWELRY.mp3]

The recent recall of thousands of children’s necklaces containing the heavy metal cadmium and some bracelets containing lead raised lawmakers’  awareness of the need to protect children from the hazardous substances.

Assemblyman Pat Diegnan is one of the sponsors of a bill that puts stricter requirements on the materials used in kids’ jewelry.

Diegnan: I’ll tell you what brought it to my mind, my granddaughter. Every day when my daughter would drop her off I noticed she chews on her jewelry and I’ve spoken to other people and they say that’s very common. So really it’s kind of a common sense piece of legislation.

The measure requires stores to remove tainted jewelry from their shelves or face fines of thousands of dollars.  The legislation has been approved by the state Assembly.  A similar bill still awaits action in the Senate.