Blaming China for all the lead-contaminated products they send to the U.S. is fair, I think. After all, they made the stuff, right? But what about the U.S. companies they make it for? The Consumer Product Safety Commission has promised to make these companies responsible for what they sell and the recent passage of the Consumer Product Safety Commission reform bill gives them more leverage in that regard.

And just to prove they mean business, yesterday the CPSC handed down the largest ever civil penalty for violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Reebok was fined $1 million for importing and distributing bracelets containing toxic levels of lead. The Chinese-made bracelets, given away as free gifts with the purchase of children's footwear, were recalled in 2006 after a four-year-old boy died after swallowing the heart pendant attached to the bracelet.

"This civil penalty sends a clear message that the CPSC will not allow companies to put children's safety at risk," Acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord said in a release.

The fine was the result of a settlement with Reebok, who deny violating federal law. Since the recall, Reebok says they have established procedures "which ensure all gift-with-purchase and promotional items and premium products associated with our brand meet or exceed the highest quality and safety standards."