Arroyo, son Dato push for standard labeling of toys, games

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and his son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, are pressing for a standardized labeling for toys and games. In House Bill 1221, the Arroyos said products for children aged 10 and below should be marked with, or accompanied by, clear safety warnings or instructions. "A law that would protect children against hazards and safety and the provision of adequate rights and means of redress is imperative," the younger Arroyo said in a press statement. Under the proposed "Toy Safety Labeling Act of 2010," the packaging of any toy or game for children 10 years old and below shall contain cautionary statements, especially if such an item includes small parts and is manufactured for sale, offered for sale or distributed in commerce in the Philippines. HB 1221 states that any cautionary statement shall be displayed entirely on the principal display panel of the product's package and on any descriptive material that accompanies the product. In the case of bulk sales of such a product, when unpacked, the cautionary statement should be displayed on the bin. The container for retail display of the product and any vending machine from which the unpacked product is dispensed and displayed should also bear the cautionary statement written in English or Filipino or both; it should be in conspicuous place and should be written in legible font type that is in contrast by typography, lay-out, or color to other printed words on the package, descriptive materials, bin, container and vending machine. The bill further provides that a balloon, ball, marble, toy or game whose cautionary labels fail to comply with the requirements of the proposed measure shall be considered a misbranded or banned hazardous substance. These items shall be withdrawn from the market at the expense of the manufacturer or shall not be allowed to be distributed, sold or offered for sale, the bill states. Violators will be fined ranging from P10,000.00 to P50,000.00 and imprisonment of two years. The bill directs the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to promulgate the regulations in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines on labeling. It also mandates the DTI to regularly publish the list of all manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers who failed to comply with the requirements. — Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV