March 2, 2004 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Children's Rings

Units: 1 Million

Manufacturer: Brand Imports LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Hazard: The rings contain high levels of lead, posing a risk of lead poisoning to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The metal rings are silver in color with shapes including hearts and stars, with slashes of colored paint.

Sold at: Vending machines in malls, discount department and grocery stores nationwide from December 2002 through August 2003 for about 25 cents.

Manufactured in: India

Remedy: Consumers should throw the ring away or contact the company for more information.

Consumer Contact: Brand Imports LLC at (800) 967-3048 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.