Immediate For Release
Contact: Mattel Corporate Communications 310-252-4705 [e-mail]
MATTEL ANNOUNCES VOLUNTARY RECALL OF SINGLE PRODUCT LIMITED TO THREE MARKETS Product in Canada, British Isles and U.S. Only EL SEGUNDO, Calif., October 25, 2007 Mattel, Inc. announced today that, as a result of the company's extensive investigation of toys manufactured prior to the implementation of the three-point check testing system, the company has voluntarily recalled a production run of a single product sold in three markets due to impermissible levels of lead. The toy is the Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat from Fisher-Price, which has two painted logos that may be affected. The toys were sold at retail after June 2007 in the U.S., the U.K., the Republic of Ireland and Canada. Toys sold before this date are not affected. There are 38,000 affected toys in the U.S., 12,000 in the U.K and the Republic of Ireland and 5,500 in Canada. No other countries are affected. "Mattel has now tested samples of the vast majority of products expected to ship for the holiday season, including those produced before the implementation of our three-point check testing system," said Geoff Massingberd, senior vice president of the company's newly-created Corporate Responsibility organization. "This testing program continues and all toys manufactured since the adoption of the new system have been, and continue to be, sampled and tested prior to leaving the manufacturing facility." Mattel sourced a piece of the product for molding and painting to Man Shing, a facility which then subcontracted the painting to Hua Yi, which used unauthorized paint. The toys were produced between May 17, 2007, and August 11, 2007. Mattel is working in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and applicable regulatory agencies in the EU and Canada. Mattel is also working with retailers in those three countries to identify and remove affected products from retail shelves. For additional information regarding this recall, please contact Mattel at 888-299-0579 or visit the company's Web site at www.service.mattel.com. Detail of the recalled item is also published by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. How to Return Affected Toys/Parts: 1) The first step is for consumers to determine if they have the recalled toy. do To so, they can visit www.service.mattel.com where they will find a complete description of the toy recalled, including a color photo, toy model number and affected date codes. Consumers can locate model number and date code on the bottom of the toy. For consumers without a computer, or for those who prefer phone support, they may call 888-299-0579. 2) Once consumers determine that they think they own the Mattel toy affected by the recall, they are prompted to fill out a form (online) or provide their postal address (via phone), and Mattel will send to consumers (via email or to a postal address) a pre-paid mailing label for return of the affected boat. (more) 3) After receiving consumers' returned, affected boat, Mattel will send consumers full replacement product for each affected boat.
Mattel Issues Alert to Consumers /PAGE 2 2 2 2
Mattel recommends that consumers do not return toys to retailers for three reasons: 1) Mattel can help consumers determine if a toy has been affected by the recall (vs. returning an unaffected toy) 2) Mattel will provide consumers with a replacement for each toy part affected by the recall; and 3) Mattel will handle affected products in an environmentally-responsible way. Consumers do not need to have the toy's original packaging or a receipt to return to Mattel. About Mattel Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manuf...