TOY MAKERS TO PAY $2.3 MILLION CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL LEAD PAINT BAN
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that toy-maker Mattel Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Fisher-Price Inc., have agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for violating the federal lead paint ban which has been in effect since 1978. The law prohibits toys and other children's articles from having more than 0.06 percent lead in paints or surface coatings. Lead can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health consequences.
In 2007, about 95 Mattel and Fisher-price toy models were determined to have exceeded the federal limit. CPSC alleged that Mattel knowingly imported up to 900,000 non-complaint toys between September 2006 and August 2007 and distributed them to its retail customers for sale to US consumers. The toys were later recalled in August and September of 2007. The CPSC further alleged that Fisher Price knowingly imported up to 1.1 million non-complaint toys between July 2006 and August 2007. Theses toys were recalled in August, September and October of 2007.
The $2.3 million civil penalty is the highest for violations involving importation or distribution in commerce of a regulated product and is the third highest of any kind in CPSC history. CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore hopes that the penalty serves as notice to toy makers that the CPSC is committed to the safety of children, to reducing their exposure to lead and to the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
