DOJ shuts down Los Angeles toy importers

Brightstar Group and Unik Toyz Trading, both based out of Los Angeles, Calif., agreed in federal court to cease their imports of hazardous children’s toys.    The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday filed two civil actions in federal court in the Central District of California seeking to stop the import and sales activities of two California companies and three individuals in connection with imports of “illegal and dangerous” children’s products.
   The products allegedly contained lead, phthalates and small parts posing as choking hazards for children under the age of three.
   The companies – Brightstar Group and Unik Toyz Trading – and defendants have agreed to settle the lawsuits.
   Most of the toys imported by the two companies were stopped by regulators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and were not sold to consumers, the Justice Department said.