Business Notes CONSUMER SAFETY

The snowman doll has buttons that look like candy, and can easily be removed and swallowed by a curious child. The toy telephones shatter when dropped. Every year dozens of children die while playing with such toys, and thousands more are injured. Many of the toys are cheap imports that do not meet U.S. safety standards. In an unusual effort to keep hazardous playthings out of stores, the U.S. Customs Service has joined forces with the Consumer Product Safety Commission in what they are calling Operation Toyland. Inspectors have seized more than 157,630 toys worth some $550,000 in California during the past two weeks. As the Christmas season approaches, Operation Toyland will be expanded to other U.S. ports.