Los Angeles toy importer settles federal safety claims

A Los Angeles firm agreed to pay $31,500 to settle allegations that it imported and sold toys that were hazardous to young children, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

TGH International Trading Inc. brought more than 11,000 toys into the U.S. from March 2005 to June 2006 that contained small parts that presented a choking hazard to children. Many of the hazardous toys were seized at the Port of Long Beach by federal officials before they could reach store shelves, the agency said, and those that did reach stores were recalled.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday that it wasn't aware of any incidents or injuries involving toys that were distributed.

TGH refused to comment on the settlement. But in agreeing to pay the $31,500 civil penalty, the company denied that it had violated federal law.

This not the company's first run-in with the commission.

In 2003, TGH was cited for delivering about 50,000 hazardous children's toys -- a violation that took place from 1994 to 2002. In the same 2003 notice, the company was cited for delivering about 59,000 baby rattles that posed a choking hazard. link.....