Major Retailers Agree to Pay Fine for Selling Toxic Toys

Posted on November 7, 2009 in Business/Law, Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Parenting, Recalls

Target Corp., Kmart, and Toys R Us Inc. have agreed to pay almost $500,000 in fines for selling children’s toys that contained excessive amounts of toxic lead.

California officials sued the retail giants and toy maker Mattel Inc. in 2007 after it was discovered toys made or sold by the companies violated the federal and state bans on lead paint in children’s products. Exposure to lead can be toxic, particularly to young developing children, and has been linked to nervous system disorders and developmental delays.

The companies agreed to pay a total of $454,000 in civil penalties and other fines to settle lawsuits brought by the California attorney general and Los Angeles city attorney’s office. Target will pay $210,000, Toys R Us will pay $175,000, and Kmart will pay $69,000, according to the settlement agreement, which still must be approved by the court to take effect.

“Our enforcement action will serve as a reminder to companies that they have a responsibility to make sure that children aren’t exposed to harmful chemicals from their toys,” said Harrison Pollak, a state deputy attorney general, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. “The settlement provides a remedy for past violations and makes it less likely that there will be future violations of lead standards.”