The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Jo-Ann Stores Inc., of Hudson, Ohio, has agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty for allegedly importing and selling children’s products that violated the federal lead paint ban.
The penalty settlement (pdf) which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that Jo-Ann Stores knowingly imported and sold Robbie Ducky™ children’s products that contained lead paint in excess of the federal government’s regulatory limit from January through November 2007. At the time of the violations, the federal limit on lead in paint was 600 ppm (0.06 percent).
As a result of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the regulatory limit on lead in paint and surface coatings was reduced in August 2009 from 600 ppm (0.06 percent) to 90 ppm (.009 percent).
The following Robbie Ducky™ children’s products allegedly violated the federal lead paint ban and were later recalled by Jo-Ann Stores:
- Robbie Ducky™ children’s watering cans – 6,000 recalled on August 28, 2007
- Robbie Ducky™ children’s toy rakes – 16,000 recalled on September 26, 2007
- Robbie Ducky™ children’s toy rakes – An additional 97,000 toy rakes were recalled on October 25, 2007
- Robbie Ducky™ holiday water globes – 60 recalled on December 13, 2007
In agreeing to the settlement, Jo-Ann Stores denies CPSC's allegations that it violated federal law.
Robbie Ducky™ Watering Can
Robbie Ducky™ Toy Rake
Robbie Ducky™ Holiday Water Globes
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death 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. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
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