Excelligence Learning Corp to Pay $25,000 Civil Penalty Due to Violation of Lead Paint Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C.- THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT EXCELLIGENCE LEARNING CORP, OF MONTEREY, CALIF. DBA DISCOUNT SCHOOL SUPPLY HAS AGREED TO PAY A $25,000 CIVIL PENALTY FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING THE FEDERAL LEAD PAINT BAN. THE PENALTY SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION.

THE SETTLEMENT RESOLVES CPSC STAFF ALLEGATIONS THAT EXCELLIGENCE IMPORTED MORE THAN 33,000 UNITS OF CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS THAT CONTAINED LEAD PAINT ABOVE THE 0.06 PERCENT LEGAL LIMIT AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS BETWEEN AUGUST 2000 AND AUGUST 2007. IN 1978, A FEDERAL BAN WAS PUT IN PLACE WHICH PROHIBITED TOYS AND OTHER CHILDREN’S ARTICLES FROM HAVING MORE THAN 0.06 PERCENT LEAD (BY WEIGHT) IN PAINTS OR SURFACE COATINGS. AS A RESULT OF THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008, THE REGULATORY LIMIT WAS REDUCED TO 0.009 PERCENT ON AUGUST 14, 2009. THESE PRODUCTS WERE RECALLED IN NOVEMBER 2007, DECEMBER 2007AND JANUARY 2008.

IN AGREEING TO THE SETTLEMENT, EXCELLIGENCE DENIES THAT IT KNOWINGLY VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW, AS ALLEGED BY CPSC STAFF.