The proposed rules would mandate that companies report whether products intended for children under age 12 contain mercury, arsenic, cadmium or formaldehyde.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Democrats and environmental groups say a Maine Department of Environmental Protection proposal to require companies to report whether children’s products contain certain chemicals doesn’t do enough to protect kids.
The proposed rules would mandate that companies report whether products intended for children under age 12 contain mercury, arsenic, cadmium or formaldehyde.
A department spokeswoman says the chemicals are known carcinogens and the state now has no way of knowing whether they’re in children’s products.
But Democratic lawmakers and the Environmental Health Strategy Center say chemicals like mercury have already been banned so the rules will have little impact. They say not applying the rules to all home products leaves pregnant women and others at risk.
The department will hold a public hearing on the proposal Dec. 17.
