The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that could significantly reshape the micromobility industry. The CPSC issued the NPR to address what it describes as an “unreasonable risk of death and injury” associated with lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility products, including risks tied to thermal runaway that can lead to fires, explosions, gas releases, burns, overheating, and smoke inhalation. If finalized, the rule would impose mandatory safety requirements on a wide range of popular consumer products — from e-bikes to hoverboards.

Continue Reading CPSC’s Proposed Micromobility Rule Could Reshape the E-Bike and E-Scooter Industry: What Manufacturers and Retailers Need to Know About Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Requirements

Navigating a Shifting Landscape 

The U.S. pet industry is booming—an estimated $143.6 billion market in 2023, with over 152 million American households that own at least one pet. Alongside this growth, however, comes increasing scrutiny regarding the safety of pet products. Recent high-profile incidents, such as Petmate’s nationwide recall of Pet Zone pet toys due to non-compliant button cell batteries, have highlighted not only the risks to pets and households, but also the potential for significant financial and reputational harm to companies.  

Continue Reading Pet Product Regulation May be Nipping at the Heels 

When a consumer safety complaint arises, having the right procedures in place can make all the difference in minimizing legal and regulatory exposure. This cross-functional checklist is designed to help legal, compliance, engineering, manufacturing, customer service, and marketing teams stay aligned, act decisively, and respond with confidence when a potential product safety issue emerges.

Continue Reading Is Your Company Prepared? A Checklist for Responding to Consumer Safety Complaints  

A New Jersey consumer products company was sentenced this week to pay a criminal fine of $8 million plus an additional $395,786 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to willfully failing to report dangerously defective air conditioners to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The case illustrates the staggering civil and even criminal consequences that can flow from failure to satisfy the Consumer Product Safety Act’s (CPSA) mandatory reporting requirements, especially the willingness of federal prosecutors to pursue criminal charges.

Continue Reading Criminal Sentencing in Royal Sovereign Case Underscores Staggering Consequences for Defective Product Reporting Failures

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) marked the most significant expansion of FDA’s authority over cosmetics in 80 years — and the agency is putting that authority to work. From the launch of a new adverse event reporting tool to forthcoming rules on fragrance allergens and good manufacturing practices (GMP), FDA is

Register now to join Crowell & Moring for “Between the Lines: What CPSC Enforcement Data Reveals for 2026 and Beyond” to explore the latest regulatory enforcement trends and gain a forward-looking perspective on what 2026 and beyond may bring. The webinar will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET.

Continue Reading Register Now! Between the Lines: What CPSC Enforcement Data Reveals for 2026 and Beyond

Day 4 marked the close of the ICPHSO 2026 Annual Meeting & Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida following a jam-packed week of education, exploration, and meaningful dialogue about the future of product safety and regulatory compliance in the U.S. and beyond. The day began with the traditional passing of the gavel to welcome incoming ICPHSO president Dani Cugini while acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of outgoing President Chris Harvey.  

Then, in a first ever for ICPHSO, participants were thrust into the Courtroom for a mock-trial experience, giving many product safety professionals their first inside look at the complexities and challenges of litigating safety and products liability issues. Crowell’s “court reporter,” Sean Ward, was on the scene with a riveting recap of all the action. As court was called to recess, Day 4’s short program concluded with a series of plenary sessions highlighting the consumer perspective and the need for inclusive and proactive safety solutions that recognize the dynamic challenges faced by vulnerable populations and ensure accessibility to safety information for all. 

Below is a closer look at select sessions from the final day of ICPHSO 2026. 

Continue Reading Day 4 of the ICPHSO Symposium: Courtroom Drama & Consumer Voices  

Day three of the ICPHSO Annual Meeting & Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida brought another packed slate of sessions, and the Crowell team was present throughout to capture the day’s key insights and conversations. Across panels spanning right-to-repair, online marketplace regulation, recall collaboration, and international risk assessment, a single urgent question surfaces: as products, supply chains, and consumer behaviors grow more complex, how do regulators, manufacturers, retailers, and platforms share — and sometimes contest — the responsibility for keeping consumers safe? Day three made clear that the answer increasingly demands cooperation, not just compliance.

Below is a closer look at select sessions from the day and the key takeaways that resonated with attendees.

Continue Reading Day Three of the ICPHSO Symposium: Redefining Responsibility — Who Protects the Consumer in a Changing Marketplace?

What does Taylor Swift have to do with product safety? According to the panelists who took the stage for the first plenary session at the ICPHSO Annual Meeting & Training Symposium, quite a lot. As the opening lyric reminded the room, looking backward may be the only way to look forward.

Moderated by Molly Lynyak of ASTM International and featuring Joan Lawrence of The Toy Association, Cheryl Falvey of Crowell & Moring, and Dana Baiocco of Clyde & Co., the panel walked through more than five decades of product safety history — and drew some sharp lessons for where the industry goes next.

Continue Reading The Product Safety Eras Tour at ICPHSO: Lessons from the Past, Challenges for the Future

The second panel of the day brought a timely and clear-eyed look at where CPSC enforcement has been — and where it is headed. Crowell & Moring attorneys Clay Marquez, Chantel Greene, and Sean Ward started the second day of the ICPHSO Annual Meeting & Training Symposium walking attendees through the enforcement landscape using a framework as straightforward as it is memorable: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Continue Reading Second Up to Bat at ICPHSO — and Swinging Hard: The New Realities of CPSC Enforcement