Los Angeles — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex seized 55,080 children’s ride-on toy vehicles, containing batteries underneath the seats, with counterfeit Underwriters Laboratories component certification “RU” markings.
CBP officers discovered the infringing merchandise in 14 shipments arriving from China.
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“Preventing the entry of counterfeit items is crucial to protecting the safety of consumers as well as the economy of the United States,” said CBP Acting Director of Los Angeles Field Operations Carlos Martel.
The RU component recognition mark is one of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. component certification programs. UL is an independent product safety certification organization that rigorously tests and evaluates products for potential risk of fire, shock, and personal injury. Products are not certified until they meet established standards.
Products bearing counterfeit RU certification marks have not undergone such testing and certification process, and can present potential safety hazards to the end-user in this case children. The ride-on toy vehicles will be destroyed.
In Fiscal Year 2009, electrical articles presenting potential safety or security risks, with an estimated domestic value of $4.3 million, represented 13 percent of all commodities seized by CBP.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
