LOS ANGELES—Many parents may know the dangers of recalled and counterfeit toys for children as the holiday season fast approaches, but gift items shipped from overseas can be equally hazardous, a consumer advocate group warned Tuesday.
That’s because when a toy or other product is purchased online from another country and shipped directly to a consumer in the United States, it generally does not get inspected before it’s delivered, according to the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG).
“Once the products arrive at your home or in the warehouse of an online seller, if regulators find out about any dangers—from consumers, retailers, or their own investigators—they often are powerless to stop the online sales or take the sellers to court to pursue recalls,” CALPIRG’s annual Trouble in Toyland report says….