SACRAMENTO - Midway Importing Inc., a nationwide distributor and marketer of health and beauty care brands, has paid a penalty of $213,000 for violating consumer products regulations that protect air quality, the Air Resources Board announced today.

The Houston, Texas-based company agreed to pay the fine after the Air Resources Board determined that multiple hair gel products that were sold and/or supplied by Midway Importing exceeded state limits for volatile organic compounds.

These compounds are regulated by the Air Resources Board because they react with other pollutants under sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a main ingredient in smog. As a result of direct sales to consumers, the products in question contributed an estimated 23.9 tons of excess VOC emissions to California's air. 

During routine inspections at retail outlets in California in 2010, Enforcement Division staff purchased Moco de Gorila Gel Estilo Galan hair gel, also known as Gorilla Snot, manufactured by Nattura Laboratorios of Mexico.

The product was tested by ARB's Monitoring and Laboratory Division and found to have exceeded the VOC limit for hair styling products. Further investigation revealed that other similar hair gel products were imported into the U.S. and distributed into California by Midway Importing.

As part of the settlement, Midway agreed not to sell, supply or offer for sale for use in California, any consumer products in violation of ARB consumer products regulations.

For more information about the Consumer Products Program, go to: https://www.arb.ca.gov/consprod/consprod.htm (http://www.arb.ca.gov/consprod/consprod.htm)