Recall: Imported Children's Sleepwear Seized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 1988
Release # 88-55

Federal Officials Announce Results Of Cooperative Seizures Of Illegal Imported Children's Sleepwear In Operation "Sweet Dreams"

LOS ANGELES, CA. -- Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Terrence Scanlon has announced the seizure of nearly 220,000 units of non-complying children's sleepwear in 'Operation Sweet Dreams,' a surveillance effort directed at imported children's garments destined for U.S. commerce through the parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The program, a joint operation with the U.S. Customs Service, netted sleepwear that violated U.S. Government flammability standards. The estimated retail value of the sleepwear is over a half a million dollars.

The CPSC estimates that close to 100 sleepwear-related burn injuries to children under 15 are treated annually in hospital emergency rooms and 5 deaths are associated with ignition of children's clothing each year. Nearly one third of the children's sleepwear sold in the U.S each year is imported, with a substantial percentage passing through the ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"The seized sleepwear garments will not enter U.S. commerce this year to pose a safety hazard to Americans, especially our very youngest children," Scanlon said. "Previously, domestic surveillance efforts involved going to individual retail outlets and industry trade shows each year to identify violative goods. The new dockside approach is more efficient and effective in intercepting imported illegal children's sleepwear before it reaches the hands of consumers." Similar joint projects by the CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service have already had success in interdicting more than 60 million units of illegal toys and fireworks, primarily from the Far East.

Scanlon said: "Operation 'Sweet Dreams' and other cooperative interagency, programs should serve notice that the importing of unsafe products will no longer be tolerated by the U.S. Government. America's parents deserve better than having their vulnerable young children exposed to the threat of serious burns or death from flammable sleepwear. The CPSC and the Customs Service intend to end that threat."

Scanlon said: "Foreign manufacturers and importers who do not take the federal government's determination seriously will face the consequences, not only of the government's actions, but public opinion in this country as well."

A list of the items seized, importers, country of origin, number of units involved and estimated retail value is attached.

For more information call CPSC Office of Information representative, Dave Shiflett, Washington, D.C. 301 492-6580 or the CPSC Los Angeles Regional Office media representative, Janice Mitchell (213) 251-7464.