Mattel, Fisher-Price to Pay $2.3 Million For Violating Lead Paint Ban
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Mattel Inc. and its subsidiary, Fisher-Price Inc. have agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for violating the federal lead paint ban. The CPSC says that in 2007, about 95 Mattel and Fisher-Price toy models were determined to have exceeded the lead limit in toys. This civil penalty is the third highest of any kind in CPSC history and the highest ever for CPSC regulated product violations.
"These highly publicized toy recalls helped spur Congressional action last year to strengthen CPSC and make even stricter the ban on lead paint on toys," said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore. "This penalty should serve notice to toy makers that 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."
Mattel imported up to 900,000 non-compliant toys between September 2006 and August 2007, including a "Sarge" toy car and numerous Barbie accessory toys. Fisher-Price imported up to 1.1 million non-compliant toys between July 2006 and August 2007, including certain licensed character toys and the Bongo Band, Geotrax locomotive, and Go Diego Go Rescue Boat toys. These toys were all recalled in 2007.
