Vermont Toxic Substances in Children’s Products Reporting Rule Takes Effect

Earlier this month, Vermont’s Toxic Substances in Children’s Products Rule took effect. According to this rule, companies that sell children’s products in Vermont must make certain disclosures about whether the products contain any of the 66 chemicals specified in the legislation if the chemical is present as a contaminant (100 ppm or more), or if the chemical was intentionally added beyond the chemical’s practical quantification limit (PQL).

Some of the chemicals included on the list are formaldehyde, methylene chloride, styrene, and a number of parabens. A manufacturer’s report must include the name of the chemical, a description of the chemical, the amount contained in each product unit, the name and address of the product’s manufacturer, the reason the chemical was included in the product, and the brand name and product model.

The new rules provide certain reporting years, with the first falling between January 1, 2016 and July 1, 2016. Starting on July 1, 2016, any manufacturer that makes a product designed for children, or a trade association representing such manufacturers, must submit a report to the Vermont Department of Health containing the aforementioned information.

Additionally, the Vermont Department of Health recently announced that initial reporting requirements may be delayed as the agency attempts to construct its online reporting system. In an email circulated to various interested parties earlier this month, the Department indicated that manufacturers will have six months to make their required reports from when the online platform is officially open. The agency further predicted that the online reporting system will be live and ready for reporting sometime in the spring of 2016.

One of the biggest concerns that the opposition to the product-specific rule raised during its formulation regarded the large number of reports that the agency would need to process. Many members of the opposition advocated for a broader approach that would not require specific reports about each product. Proponents of the rule that was ultimately passed herald its ability to provide consumers and parents with the maximum amount of information about the dangerous chemicals that may be in a wide variety of children’s products.

At Moll Law Group, we understand how particularly devastating and stressful injuries that affect children can be. As parents, you do everything you can to ensure the safety, health, and protection of your kids. Even when you think you are making the right choice, however, companies can include harmful and toxic chemicals in their products that cause your children to suffer painful and sometimes permanent injuries. In some cases, it can be impossible to know that the chemical is present in the product until it’s too late.

Our child safety lawyers have helped numerous parents bring claims against product manufacturers to seek the settlement or the judgment that they deserve. While money may not ever fully compensate you or your child for the injuries they’ve sustained, it can help you get back on your feet and ease the burden of the devastating and unnecessary experience. We have provided legal guidance to parents throughout the United States, including in Illinois, California, New York, and Florida. Call us now at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to set up your free consultation today.

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