The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that a lawsuit has been filed against Ameri-China International Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., and the company's president, Austin Wu. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Ameri-China imported more than 755,000 illegal children's toys between 1997 and 2000.
CPSC is seeking a civil penalty and a court order preventing the company from committing any further illegal actions. The complaint charges that Ameri-China imported or purchased for re-sale eight separate shipments of violative toys. Every time CPSC found a violative shipment, it notified the company; yet, Mr. Wu and Ameri-China continued to violate the law by importing more unsafe toys. In cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service, CPSC prevented violative toys from reaching U.S. store shelves.
Ameri-China imported toy cars, helicopters, phones, and bubble blowing plastic hammers, which violated the federal safety standard for small parts. Toys with small parts are a choking hazard for children under 3. The company also imported or purchased for re-sale bouncing balls, mini pool table sets, art sets and balloon helicopters, that contained labeling violations and are considered to be misbranded hazardous substances. The company's crazy ribbon party spray was found to be flammable and therefore a banned hazardous substance.
"We will aggressively pursue companies that import and endanger children with unsafe toys," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "CPSC will take strong action to deter this kind of conduct, and stop companies from profiting at the expense of children's safety."
Every year CPSC recalls numerous children's products that could contribute to unnecessary deaths or injuries. The CPSC's safety standards for children's toy are among the most stringent in the world.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation is representing the Commission in federal court.
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.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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