Banned Clown Dolls Seized By Feds; Choking Hazard Cited
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 1989
Release # 89-066
Banned Clown Dolls Seized By Feds; Choking Hazard Cited
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Agents of the federal government seized
approximately 53,000 banned hazardous toy clown dolls late Friday
afternoon, July 7, 1989 in a New York City warehouse because they
contain small parts that present a choking risk to children.
The Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, working with the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), initiated the court-ordered seizure and
impoundment of the dolls imported into this country by Etna
Worldwide Corporation, New York, New York.
The clown dolls, usually marketed as the "Dress Me Clown,"
were sold nationwide by mail order retailers for about $5.00 to
$6.00 each. Clothed primarily in red, blue and yellow, this doll
has yellow string hair, a clown's cap and is about 13 inches
long. It also has a snap, a button, a zipper, a buckle and shoe
laces intended to introduce young children to various dressing
functions. It may be identified by a cloth tag sewn onto the
doll's cap that says: "ITEM # 6159."
When the Commission tested the clown dolls in accordance
with the regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act,
zipper clasps, buttons and buckles came off the dolls. The
Commission alleges that these small parts make the dolls banned
hazardous substances because they present a choking, ingestion
and aspiration hazard to children.
The dolls were returned to Etna by a retailer, and Etna
failed to assure the Commission that the dolls would not be
resold. Etna may now contest the Commission's action in Federal
Distict Court or attempt to resolve the matter by agreement with
the CPSC.