Toy importer penalized for choking hazard

WASHINGTON — TGH International Trading Inc. has agreed to pay a $31,500 civil penalty after it imported and sold toys with small parts in violation of federal child safety standards, government officials said Monday.

The small parts presented choking hazards to kids.

The penalty is part of a settlement the Los Angeles-based company reached with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency said the settlement resolves the commission’s allegations that the company knowingly imported and sold toys that didn’t meet the safety requirements.

In agreeing to the settlement, the company denies the agency’s allegations that it knowingly violated the law.

TGH imported more than 11,000 toys containing small parts into the U.S. between March 2005 and June 2006, according to the CPSC. Many of the hazardous toys were seized through port inspections and other investigative work before they could reach store shelves, the commission said.

The commission said it is not aware of any injuries involving the toys that were distributed.