| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29, 2001 Release # 01-181 |
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051 |
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that a lawsuit has been filed against Ameri-China International
Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., and the company's president, Austin Wu. The
lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of
California, alleges that Ameri-China imported more than 755,000 illegal
children's toys between 1997 and 2000.
CPSC is seeking a civil penalty and a court order preventing the company from
committing any further illegal actions. The complaint charges that Ameri-China
imported or purchased for re-sale eight separate shipments of violative toys.
Every time CPSC found a violative shipment, it notified the company; yet, Mr.
Wu and Ameri-China continued to violate the law by importing more unsafe toys.
In cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service, CPSC prevented violative toys
from reaching U.S. store shelves.
Ameri-China imported toy cars, helicopters, phones, and bubble blowing plastic
hammers, which violated the federal safety standard for small parts. Toys with
small parts are a choking hazard for children under 3. The company also
imported or purchased for re-sale bouncing balls, mini pool table sets, art
sets and balloon helicopters, that contained labeling violations and are
considered to be misbranded hazardous substances. The company's crazy ribbon
party spray was found to be flammable and therefore a banned hazardous
substance.
"We will aggressively pursue companies that import and endanger children with
unsafe toys," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "CPSC will take strong action to
deter this kind of conduct, and stop companies from profiting at the expense of
children's safety."
Every year CPSC recalls numerous children's products that could contribute to
unnecessary deaths or injuries. The CPSC's safety standards for children's toy
are among the most stringent in the world.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation is representing
the Commission in federal court.
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Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.