FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 1999
Release # 99-176
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Alan Shakin, (301) 504-7632
Ohio Company Sentenced for Selling Recalled Toys
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that The Mazel Company, of Solon, Ohio, was sentenced to
pay a criminal penalty of $40,000 after pleading guilty to four counts
of selling banned children's toys. The toys had been recalled by their
New Jersey importer in 1996 because they contained small parts, which
posed a choking hazard to young children. However, following the recall,
the importer resold the toys to Mazel. Between August 1996 and February
1997, Mazel sold approximately 800 Teddy Precious Collectible Bears to
small retail stores throughout the United States.
Toys intended for children under 3 that contain small parts are
banned under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. The U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of Ohio sentenced Mazel immediately
after accepting the guilty plea.
CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "This case will alert companies that
the sale of dangerous children's products is a violation of criminal
law. We will aggressively pursue actions like this one to protect the
safety of American children."
The Civil Division's Office of Consumer Litigation, in the
Department of Justice, handled the prosecution of Mazel and the New
Jersey importer, Dan Dee International Inc. In April, Dan Dee also pled guilty and was sentenced to pay a $40,000
criminal fine.