Toy importer fined for high lead levels

Published 5:00 am Friday, June 26, 2009

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles-area toy importer has agreed to pay a $665,000 fine for importing and selling toys with high levels of lead and for violating other federal child-safety standards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The commission announced Thursday that it had reached a settlement with OKK Trading Ltd. The company’s Web site says it is one of the nation’s largest wholesale direct importers of dollar-store toys, stationery and seasonal merchandise.

OKK officials could not be reached for comment, but a news release from the commission said that, as part of the settlement, the company denied having knowingly violated the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.