In what's being hailed as the "biggest overhaul of U.S. product-safety rules in a generation," Congress agreed today to strengthen consumer protection laws on a series of products, including toys and juvenile products like cribs, high chairs and strollers.

The Wall Street Journal today reports on the details. In a nutshell, here's what will change if the President signs the bill:
• Juvenile products that used to have a mix of voluntary and mandatory safety standards (cribs, for example) would now have MANDATORY standards. Hopefully, this will address the slats and other safety issues that have triggered major recalls in recent years. 
• Strollers and high chairs will now have mandatory standards; previously, safety rules were voluntary. 
• Phthalates, a chemical that makes plastic soft and is often found in toys and teethers, would be banned in six months. (Major retailers like Wal-Mart and BRU are already phasing out this chemical).
• Toys would have to meet stringent, third-party testing requirements to avoid lead and other hazards.
Our view: these changes are long overdue. And given the massive number of recalls in the last year, the bill will go a long way in restoring consumer trust in government safety oversight.