U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

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

On June 1, 2026, the White House issued a statement that Brien Lorenze of Virginia is nominated as a commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for a term of seven years, from October 27, 2024, filling the seat vacated by Commissioner Doug Dziak.

Continue Reading Brien Lorenze Nominated Commissioner of Consumer Product Safety Commission

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 

Tuesday, February 24 was the second day of the ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida. The Crowell team was on the ground throughout the day, and the sessions did not disappoint. From cybersecurity standards for IoT devices and the European Union’s (EU) sweeping new compliance obligations — the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and Digital Product Passports — to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) eFiling deadlines and the challenge of age-grading products in a social media landscape, the recurring question was the same: how do regulators, companies, and standards bodies stay ahead of a marketplace that never stops moving?

With that backdrop in mind, here are some highlights from the day’s sessions and key takeaways for product safety professionals today.

Continue Reading Day Two of the ICPHSO Symposium: The Race to Keep Pace — Regulation in a Fast-Moving World

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

This past week, Senators Amy Klobuchar, Maria Cantwell and Edward Markey penned a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with “concerns regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into children’s toys.” The letter requests the CPSC respond by January 31, 2026 explaining how it will ensure children are protected from certain harms posed by AI.

Continue Reading Playtime with AI? Senators Urge CPSC to Act 

On December 12, 2025, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) published a direct final rule updating the mandatory safety standard for bassinets and cradles to align with ASTM F2194-25, the latest version of the voluntary consumer safety specification.[1] The rule describes responsibilities for manufacturers, including importers, and incorporates the new ASTM standard by reference. While the rule does not expressly state responsibilities for retailers, under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, retailers may not knowingly sell products that violate the applicable safety standards,[2] nor can such products be lawfully imported into the US.[3]

Continue Reading CPSC Finalizes 2025 Bassinets and Cradles Safety Standard

On August 27, 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a virtual public meeting to preview its 2026–2027 agenda. Acting Commissioner Peter Feldman and Executive Director Brian Lorenze outlined a significant pivot in the agency’s approach to product hazard detection and prevention—centered on artificial intelligence and predictive analytics.

Continue Reading CPSC Signals Shift to AI-Driven Product Safety Oversight

On August 19, 2025, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Peter Feldman issued a statement on the continuity of CPSC operations in anticipation of the end of Commissioner Dziak’s holdover term, set to expire in October 2025. The statement, which outlined CPSC leadership’s plans with respect to the agency’s operations in the absence of a quorum, preceded Commissioner Dziak’s August 22, 2025 announcement of his anticipated departure from the agency.

Continue Reading CPSC Acting Chairman Feldman Issues Statement on Continuity of Operations Without a Quorum Days Before Commissioner Dziak Announces Anticipated Departure from the Agency