CPSC Announces Recall of 1.8M Toy Dart Gun Sets
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, NC, is announcing the voluntary recall of 1.8 million toy dart gun sets, due to an aspiration hazard.
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Toys Sold Exclusively at Family Dollar, Imported by NJ Company
The "Auto Fire" toy target sets, manufactured in China and imported by Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, NJ, were sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores nationwide from September 2005 through January 2009.
Family Dollar is working cooperatively with CPSC to announce this recall because Henry Gordy International has refused to recall the toy dart gun sets.
Two Asphyxiation Deaths Reported, Toys Should be Discarded/Returned
CPSC and Family Dollar have received reports of two asphyxiation deaths involving the toys. Therefore, consumers should immediately take the toy target sets from children and discard them. Consumers can also return the guns and darts to a Family Dollar store for a full refund.
Import, Sale, Distribution of Recalled Products is Prohibited
Note that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) made it explicitly unlawful to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the U.S. any consumer product that is subject to voluntary corrective action (recall) or is not in conformity with a CPSC-enforced product safety rule. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/17/08 news, 08091705, for BP summary.)
(Most often, CPSC simply lists products subject to recalls on its Website. However, CPSC sometimes provides more significant coverage of specific recalls, such as it did in this case. CPSC sources have previously explained that the following factors go into the agency’s decision to more intensely publicize a recall: (i) the level of risk and whether the product has been linked to actual injury or death or just the possibility of injury and death; (ii) the number of units affected; (iii) the product type, with children’s products generally receiving more emphasis.)
CPSC press release (dated 05/17/10) available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10234.html