Nine U.S. companies will pay combined civil penalties in excess of $500,000 in the settlement of claims made by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) over violations by these companies of the federal lead paint ban. The CPSC alleged that the nine companies knowingly manufactured, imported or sold toys and other children’s products whose paint or surface coatings exceeded the statutory limit for lead of 600 parts per million by weight.  All of the items found to be in violation were recalled in 2007 or 2008, and they include necklaces, bracelets, sunglasses, pencil pouches, metal water bottles, toy cars, holiday-themed pens, Easter egg toys, and Halloween-themed cups, baskets and pails.  The CPSC has provisionally accepted the settlements. 
 
CPSC Press Release