Target has agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that the retailer knowingly sold toys with paint and surface coatings that exceeded acceptable lead levels, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today. The penalty is associated with items sold by Target from May 2006 through August 2007 that were subsequently recalled.

“These highly publicized toy recalls were among many that helped spur action last year to impose even stricter limits on lead paint on toys,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “This penalty should remind importers and retailers that they have always had the same obligation to meet the strict lead limits as the manufacturers.”

The recalled toys follow. See the recall notices for more photos.

• 350,000 Happy Giddy gardening tools and Sunny Patch chairs
• 190,500 Kool Toyz toy sets
• 5,000 Anima  Bamboo Collection games