Recalls in Review: A monthly spotlight on trending regulatory enforcement issues at the CPSC.

As we launch into the third quarter of 2020, we are taking a look at the trends from the CPSC’s recalls through the first half of the year.  The Commission has conducted 145 total recalls so far this year.  As is usually the case, the types of products recalled have varied widely, including ceiling fans, cleaning products, furniture, inclined sleepers, portable generators, pajamas, and strollers.  But some product categories have appeared multiple times, including: Dressers and Drawer Chests, Essential Oils, and Recreational Vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs, and Golf Carts.

In 2020 so far, Dressers, Drawer Chests, and Essential Oils have seen an increase in number of recalls as compared to recent years. Recreational Vehicles have historically been highly regulated, however, and the rate of recalls conducted in 2020 is comparatively similar to past years.

Continue Reading Recalls in Review: Recall Trends in 2020

Recalls in Review: A monthly spotlight on trending regulatory enforcement issues at the CPSC.

In the past year, the Commission has significantly ramped up its monitoring of products for compliance with special packaging safety standards (16 CFR § 1700), resulting in a jump in recalls for failure to meet those standards.  The CPSC has conducted

Last week, we attended the annual conference of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO), where Robert Adler, Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) addressed the conference in his capacity as interim chairman of the agency. Acting Chairman Adler began his remarks by acknowledging that he is an

Recalls in Review: A monthly spotlight on trending regulatory enforcement issues at the CPSC.

If you manufacture or sell strollers—or use a stroller to transport children under your care—headlines regarding CPSC litigation over the Britax BOB jogging stroller are likely fresh in your memory.  In today’s installment of “Recalls in Review,” we look back at

The current process for creating voluntary product safety standards has recently been criticized in the media in connection with a debate over whether rare-earth magnets can be adequately regulated through the voluntary standard process in order to protect children from swallowing the magnets. Regardless of opinions about how the process works, the CPSC treats them

Recalls in Review: A monthly spotlight on trending regulatory enforcement issues at the CPSC.

It’s hard to miss news headlines lately noting CPSC actions involving infant reclined sleepers.  In today’s installment of “Recalls in Review,” we look back at CPSC regulatory action involving a similar baby product –  infant cribs.

Approximately 110 recalls of cribs

Companies should have robust procedures in place so they can quickly respond to the receipt of information concerning the safety of their product(s). Last month, we posted an article about best practices for collecting safety complaint data, which focused on how to gather and save data when a consumer safety complaint comes through the

You’ve just received news that a consumer’s experience with your product did not go as expected. They’ve called, e-mailed, left a review, or even sent a tweet about a negative experience. As you address the consumer’s concerns, it is important to recognize if any reportable safety issues have been raised. If so, there is certain

As products liability lawyers, we spend our days focused on the nature and proof of defectiveness.  The tort law recognizes limitations on claims that products have defects when there are obvious dangers and user conduct defenses (think drunk driving).  Contributory negligence, whether from failure to follow instructions or warnings, reckless behavior, or frankly, deliberate misuse