"The government has again delayed independent safety tests required for many toys, youth all-terrain vehicles and other children's products as part of a 2008 anti-lead law -- a move meant to help small businesses burdened by the law.

Tuesday's decision by the Consumer Product Safety Commission means businesses that sell products for children 12 and under will have another ten months -- until Dec. 31 -- before they must undertake sometimes expensive third-party testing to make sure their products have safe levels of lead. The testing was supposed to begin next week.

What it means for consumers and the safety of what they see on store shelves isn't clear, says Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel at the Consumer Federation of America."

Jennifer C. Kerr reports for the Associated Press February 1, 2011. [2]