At the midpoint of 2017, we look back on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s activity under the new administration, including how recalls and penalties stack up against previous years, new focal points for safety initiatives and enforcement and an interesting development from the …›
We have entered the next chapter in the ongoing saga of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (“CPSC”) regulation of high-powered, small, rare earth magnet sets (“SREMS”).[1] On March 1, 2017, CPSC met and unanimously approved removing the Magnet Sets Safety Standard from the Code …›
Republican Ann Marie Buerkle was named Acting Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on February 9, 2017, replacing former Chairman and Democrat Elliott Kaye. This transition has many wondering whether the trend of increased CPSC enforcement, and its pledge to issue increased …›
A federal district court in Wisconsin recently ruled against a product manufacturer, finding it liable for failing to report timely in a rare U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)‑backed lawsuit. United States v. Spectrum Brands, Inc., No. 15-CV-371-WMC, 2016 WL 6835371, at *24 (W.D. …›
It is no secret that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is ramping up its efforts to enforce various aspects of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), especially the provisions about a company’s failure to timely report substantial product hazards. An ongoing case …›
The last weeks of March brought us two interesting and seemingly contradictory opinions that show the many tools that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has at its disposal to enforce its own regulations. These orders also demonstrate that CPSC will not hesitate to …›
Earlier this month, CPSC Chair Elliot Kaye told regulators, industry, and lawyers about the CPSC’s priorities for the coming year. At the top of the list were increased civil penalties for failure to report potentially hazardous products. Kaye stressed the need for more severe consequences …›
Ever heard of “voluntary” safety standards? Voluntary or not, they’re a big deal. The technical term is “voluntary consensus safety standards” or “non-government consensus standards,” and they may guide the design of your consumer product. In fact, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) considers …›
Businesses face a daunting task when attempting to comply with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) reporting requirements. In an effort to simplify and streamline the process for consumer products providers, CPSC recently launched a “Regulatory Robot” designed “to guide you through . …›
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently issued a memorandum to various enforcement agencies. The memorandum, available here, focuses on holding individuals accountable for corporate fraud and misconduct.[1] The DOJ has already shown it means business. Just days after the memorandum was published, …›