Cargo Business Newswire

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Safety inspectors seized 25,000 “unsafe” toys at Port of Houston

Inspectors at the Port of Houston reportedly seized 25,000 imported toys that were considered unsafe from 2010 to 2011 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Toys that were confiscated included boxes of toy Bears shipped from China.

"If the bear's nose and eyes can be easily pulled off, those small parts could choke children," said David McCabe, compliance investigator at the port in a Houston Chronicle story.

McCade reportedly tested parts from the toy bears in a cylinder. "Anything that fits in the cylinder is too risky for children to play with," he said.

The CPSC’s stepped up safety inspections at the busiest U.S. ports grew out of the lead paint recalls on products from China in 2007.

The CPSC is reportedly focused on toys that could pose choking hazards and lead paint exposure.

Congress increased the budget of the CPSC in 2008 when 45 million children’s products and toys were recalled, many from China.

The CPSC was charged with setting up a website where consumers can lodge complaints and scan those made by the others.

At the Port of Houston, McCabe said he inspects 150 shipments a year, or one every other day.

For the full Houston Chronicle story: www.chron.com