August 2019 Consumer Product Recalls Analysis

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls Analysis

In August 2019, there were 26 recall notices issued for consumer products by the CPSC. Nine recalls were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with Health Canada, and 2 recalls were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with the Health Canada and Mexico’s Profeco.

Sports & recreation equipment accounted for 19% of the recalls, followed by recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs) at 15%. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for the softlines and hardlines industries below.

August 2019 – CPSC
Product	Reason/Hazard(s)
Carpets – Shag Rugs	The small shag rugs fail to meet federal labeling requirements. Small rugs are not required to meet the federal flammability standard; however, they are required to be permanently labeled with the flammability warning specified in the regulation
Children’s Product – Water Bottles	The water bottle’s clear silicone spout can detach, posing a choking hazard to children
Clothing – Robes	The adult robes fail to meet the flammability standards for clothing textiles
Clothing – Children’s Pajamas	The pajamas fail to meet the federal flammability standard for children’s sleepwear
Furniture – Children’s Chairs and Stools	Paint on the chairs and stools contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban
Furniture – Folding Patio Chair	The chair frame can bend causing the user to fall, posing a risk of injury
Furniture – Chests	The chests are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children
Sports/ Fitness – Trampolines	The welds on the metal railings (legs) can fail, posing fall and injury hazards
Toys – Push Walkers	Walkers can be damaged over time exposing sharp points and small parts, posing choking and laceration hazards to small children
Toys – Bath Toys	The recalled toys can break and create a sharp point, posing laceration and choking hazards to young children

Read more: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls

Health Canada Recalls Analysis

In August 2019, there were 20 recall notices issued for consumer products by Health Canada, which was the same as the number of recall notices issued for consumer products in July 2019 (20 recall notices).

There were 3 recalls for sporting goods/fitness products and chemicals, followed by 2 recalls each for clothing, patio & garden and electronics. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for softlines and hardlines industries below.

August 2019 – Health Canada
Product	Reason/Hazard(s)
Children’s Product – Water Bottles	The water bottle’s clear silicone spout can detach, posing a choking hazard to children
Cleaning Tools – Broom	The broom handle can break, exposing an inner metal rim, which poses a laceration hazard
Clothing – Children’s Rainsuit	The rainsuit has drawstring in the hood and neck area. Drawstrings on children's upper outerwear can become caught on playground equipment, fences, or other objects and result in strangulation, or in the case of a vehicle, the child being dragged
Clothing – Robes	The adult robes fail to meet the flammability standards for clothing textiles
Furniture – Children’s Chairs and Stools	Paint on the chairs and stools contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban
Sports/ Fitness – Trampolines	The welds on the metal railings (legs) can fail, posing fall and injury hazards

EU RAPEX Recall Analysis

In August 2019, there were 65 relevant product recall alerts issued through the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), a decrease of nearly 25% from 86 recalls in the previous month. Toys accounted for the majority of product recalls with 46, followed by clothing & accessories with 13 recalls, sports & hobby equipment with 4 recalls and childcare articles with 2 recalls. We’ve highlighted the recalled product categories and hazards below.

August 2019 – EU RAPEX
Product Categories	Reason/Hazard(s)
Childcare Articles	There was one recall for potential injuries due to unsecure straps on child carriers that do not meet European Standard EN 13209 and one for a non-compliant child car seat
Clothing and Fashion Accessories	The majority of recalls have been for drawstrings that do not meet the requirements of EN 14682; also chemical recalls due to excessive nickel content in underwear and chromium VI level in leather sandals; as well as non-compliances in jewellery items for cadmium content and nickel release
Hobby and Sports Equipment	There was one failure due to an electical fault on a hoverboard, which may result in burns to the user; two recalls were the result of defective climbing equipment, which may result in injury; and one recall due to high chromium VI levels on climbing shoes
Toys	There were 15 recalls this month due to small components that present choking hazards; 2 recalls on battery operated toys because the solder on the battery contacts was found to have excessive lead content and also cadmium in some cases, which is considered as an environmental hazard Three recalls were due to high sound pressure levels, which may cause damage to hearing The majority of chemical failures were due to phthalate content in toy items (7 recalls) and boron content in ‘slime’ type toys (also 7 recalls); there were also further recalls due to lead content, cadmium content and also accessible batteries