Company Fined $665,000 for Importing Lead Toys
A California-based importer has agreed to pay a $665,000 civil fine for violating a decades-old ban on lead paint in toys and other violations of federal child safety standards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
OKK Trading, of Commerce, was accused of violating product-safety laws from November 2007 to August 2008. The company allegedly knowingly imported and sold children’s toys with paints that contained lead in levels that exceeded established limits. A federal ban in place since 1978 states that toys and other children’s products must not have more than 0.06 percent led in paints and surface coatings.
If ingested by young children, lead can be toxic and result in severe health consequences.
OKK Trading allegedly imported toys, rattles, games, pacifiers, and art supplies in violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. In addition to importing toys containing unacceptably high levels of lead, the company also is accused of marketing toys, rattles, pacifiers, and art supplies with small parts in violation of CPSC rules. Small pieces can present a risk of choking in young children.
The company told product-safety officials that it has received no reports of injuries or incidents involving the products involved in the settlement. The company also denied the allegations that it knowingly violated the law, the CPSC said.
Among the violations alleged by the CPSC were:
• From December 2004 through August 2008, OKK Trading imported and sold toys that had small parts in violation of CPSC regulations. To protect young children from choking, aspiration, or ingestion hazards, federal law prohibits toys intended for children under three from having small parts.
• From November 2004 through January 2005, OKK Trading imported rattles that violated CPSC’s safety requirements for rattles.
• From July 2007 through January 2008, OKK Trading imported and sold pacifiers that violated CPSC’s safety requirements for pacifiers, including the prohibition on small parts.
• From January 2005 through April 2007, OKK Trading imported toys and games that violated CPSC’s labeling requirements for balloons, small balls, and small parts.
• From September 2005 through April 2007, OKK Trading imported art materials that violated CPSC’s labeling requirements.
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