The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that High Star Toys Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., will pay a civil penalty of $100,000 for importing children's toys and art materials that violated federal safety standards for labeling and small parts. The company also has signed a court order prohibiting it from introducing or delivering for introduction into interstate commerce any toy or other article intended for use by children that is a mislabeled hazardous substance.
The Federal Hazardous Substances Act requires that toys or other articles intended for use by children must be properly labeled. CPSC charges that from September 1995 through August 1999, High Star imported for sale more than 55,000 units of toys and art materials, including toy telephones that had small parts without proper warning labels on them, and stamp sets that were not labeled to identify their hazardous ingredients. Products were stopped at the docks or at High Star's warehouse.
In settling the case, High Star Toys denied CPSC's claims. CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "This case will alert companies of the importance of proper labeling for children's products. We will use the tools provided by law to protect the safety of American children."
This is not the first time that High Star Toys has violated CPSC regulations and paid a penalty. In 1995, High Star paid a $45,000 civil penalty for importing toys with small parts. This previous consent decree remains in full effect and is not diminished or terminated by today's court order.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
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