July 31, 2003 - 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: Earlyears Bobbie Bear Stacking Rings

Units: About 5,000

Manufacturer: International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J.

Hazard: Plastic knobs on the rings can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of small parts detaching from the rings, though no injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled Bobbie Bear Stacking Rings have a blue and orange rounded bottom, two multicolored stacking rings, and an orange plastic bear head topper. The toy can be spun like a top and makes a rattling sound when shaken. The toy is designed for children ages 6-24 months and has a model number of E00421, which can be found on the packaging.

Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide sold these toys from April 2002 through March 2003 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should contact the company for instructions on how to return the toy to receive a free replacement item of similar value.

Consumer Contact: Call International Playthings at (800) 445-8347 anytime or log on to the company's Website at www.intplay.com/recall.htm.

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.