WASHINGTON — Recent recalls of children's toys due to lead paint or other hazards have prompted Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to introduce a bill calling for more inspections and tests on products before they get onto stores' shelves — and into children's hands.

Matheson on Tuesday introduced the "Kids Toys Safety Act," which would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop testing standards for all children's toys and products, from design through manufacture.

"No one wants to see a toy become an object of harm to a child," said Matheson, who has two sons — a toddler and one in grade school. "Parents try to do what's right, but in today's world, there are hidden dangers we can't always spot. With most toys now made overseas, we need more comprehensive testing standards for companies to meet for all children's toys and products."

Toy company Mattel recently recalled more than 20 million toys because of lead paint or tiny magnets that could be harmful if swallowed.

"According to health experts, there is no such thing as a 'safe' level of lead exposure for children," Matheson said in a statement. "Particularly for kids under age six, the health risks to their brains and central nervous systems are grave. We need more assurance that the toys we buy our children are not inadvertently poisoning them."

His bill calls for product testing by a qualified independent testing lab. The measure also would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to speed notification of a product recall by issuing a recall notice within 48 hours. Manufacturers would need to include a tracking label on children's products to help identify those that are the subject of a recall.

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