Commission to Consider Staff Proposals Related to Lead Limit Exemptions

In December, the CPSC staff submitted four proposals to the Commission regarding potential exemptions to the lead limits set forth in Section 101 of the CPSIA.  The Commission was scheduled to vote on the proposals January 5th.  Although there has not been an official CPSC announcement regarding the vote, passing would not yet establish the [...]

Comparing Old and New Consumer Product Saftey Acts Proves Difficult – Showing Edits Inline May Help

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 has generated quite a bit of angst and confusion for companies trying to do the right thing.  Manufacturers, importers and retailers struggle to figure out which of their current practices are still acceptable versus what actions need to be changed. Currently, the published version of US Code [...]

2063: Consumer Product Certifcation and Labeling Laws – Revisions Inline

US Consumer Product Safety Laws – Revisions to Product Certification and Labeling Note: Some of the formatting was lost in the conversion process to render the document in the viewer below.  Rather than grey strikethrough for deletions as indicated by the Edit Key in the document, deletions are represented by a navy blue strikethrough. Get [...]

Quick Guide to US Code Sections Amended by the CPSIA

CPSC to Streamline Certification Requirements Under CPSIA Sec. 102

Due to apparent mass confusion surrounding the new product certification rules, the Commission’s final ruling limits the types of companies that must provide certifications and trims down some of the administrative requirements. Background: Section 14 of the Consumer Product Safety Act [US Code Title 15, Chapter 47, Section 2063] covers Product Certification and Labeling. The [...]

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (2008 CPSIA) Does Not Replace the Consumer Product Safety Act (1972 CPSA)

Over the last few months, I have been asked several times whether the CPSIA of 2008 replaces the CPSA. The answer is no. The CPSIA of 2008 amends previous laws, in some instances by revising the language, and in others by adding entirely new sections.  In fact, the CPSA of 1972 has been amended several [...]

More Information About the CPSIA Please

If you have been following this blog since its inception, you have noticed a mix of topics, from research regarding the financial impact of recalls on manufacturers to safety tips for consumers. The reason? A mix of readers. Much to my delight, this blog is read by consumers, manufacturers, retailers, academics and researchers. After several [...]

Another Crib Recall Prompted by Death of Infant Causes CPSC to Seek New Rules

Delta Enterprise voluntarily recalled more than 1.5 Million cribs today to repair missing or failed pegs needed to secure the crib’s drop-side mechanism. One baby is known to have died due to missing pegs. The incident has prompted the CPSC staff to recommend an evaluation of design and durability issues, potentially leading to stricter standards [...]

US Product Recall System is Ineffective…Still?

Every year millions of people are injured or killed in product-related accidents. In 2006 (the year before recalls regained the spotlight) product-related incidents in the US alone injured 33.1 million people and killed an additional 27,000. 1 That same year, in attempt to quell those numbers, the CPSC recalled 471 products, accounting for 124 million [...]

Brief Overview of the US Consumer-Product Recall System – Old and New

In the United States, more than 15,000 types of consumer products, not including food, drugs and vehicles, fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the government agency whose job it is to protect the public “from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products.”[1] Maintaining the product recall system [...]