NBVA
Toy Recall Response

Operators of capsule vending machines have received recall notices from four major suppliers within the past few days pursuant to a voluntary recall program in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Operators have been asked to return certain toy jewelry items, some of which may contain lead. Some operators have already fully complied and the balance will comply as quickly as possible.

All the recalled items were tested by independent testing laboratories and certified as being in compliance with established ASTM testing standards. The operators believe that all the recalled items were safe due to surface coatings that made any lead content inaccessible to children. The operators are committed to vending only totally safe products, including jewelry items that are free from hazardous levels of lead. Many operators previously removed all jewelry items with lead, even before the recall.

The bulk vending industry serves children exclusively and has compiled an enviable safety record in its almost 100 year history. In the 54 year existence of the National Bulk Vendors Association, we know only of a single incident when a child swallowed a pendant reportedly containing lead. This single incident must be viewed in relation to many millions of jewelry items previously sold.

There are presently close to 700,000 capsule vending machines in the United States. Even in those machines where jewelry items with lead was present, only a few capsules per machine contained the jewelry items with lead. Operators are expected to complete removal of all jewelry items with lead within 30 days.

For more detailed information about the recalled products, the toy jewelry importers established a website and special toll free numbers:

• The website is at www.toyjewelryrecall.com.
• The media information phone is 1-800-997-9440; and
• The consumer hotline is 1-800-441-4234.