Lead paint laws have become stricter since the 2009 passing of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act to impose stricter lead restriction on toys designed for children under the age of 12. It has long been a known and proven fact that lead poisoning in children leads to severe mental, emotional and growth development issues. Lead paint in homes has been regulated since the 1970's. Older homes are usually pose the most danger to children. Now, due to the lead paint found in imported children's toys, retailers must test for and document the absence of lead paint any toys designed for children under the age 12. Toys that contain lead paint can no longer be sold. Stores must purchase or rent a scanning device that alerts to the presence of lead. Retailers who are found to still be selling toys that contain lead face stiff penalties, including fines and possible even jail time. Lead paint laws are going to be costly to many retailers, especially smaller ones. However, complying with the lead paint law can also prevent future litigation due to children being harmed by the toys.