June 2019 Consumer Product Recalls Analysis
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls Analysis
In June 2019, there were 28 recall notices issued for consumer products by the CPSC. Four recalls were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with Health Canada, and two recalls were carried out trilaterally between the CPSC, Health Canada and Profeco (Mexico – Procuraduria Federal Del Consumidor).
Appliances accounted for 17% of the recalls, followed by fireworks and ROVs, which each accounted for 13% of recalls. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for the softlines and hardlines industries below.
| June 2019 – CPSC | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Clothing – Women’s Beach Cover-ups | The women’s beach cover-up fails to meet the flammability standards for clothing textiles, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers |
| Bedding – Mattress | The mattress fails to meet the mandatory federal flammability standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard |
| Durable Nursery Products – Inclined Infant Sleeper Accessory | Infant fatalities have been reported while using other inclined sleep products, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances |
| Furniture – Corner Curio Cabinets | The recalled curio cabinets 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 |
| Footwear – Toddler Boots | A component on the boot can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children |
| Sports/ Fitness – Climbing Sticks | The climbing sticks can break due to a bolt failure on the center step, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury |
| Sports/ Fitness – Buoyancy Compensation Vest | The deflation button can come unscrewed and result in loss of buoyancy, posing a drowning hazard |
Read more: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
Health Canada Recalls Analysis
In June 2019, there were 21 recall notices issued for consumer products by Health Canada, which was almost same as the number of recall notices issued for consumer products in May 2019 (19 recall notices).
There were four recalls for personal care products, followed by 3 recalls for electronics. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for softlines and hardlines industries below.
| June 2019 – Health Canada | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Clothing – Baby Sleep Bags with Legs | The products do not meet flammability requirements for children's sleepwear under the Canadian law. Loose-fitting children's sleepwear can contact ignition sources such as stove elements, candles and matches. Once ignited, the sleepwear burns rapidly and can cause severe burns to large areas of the child's body. |
| Clothing – Pajama Pants | These products do not meet the flammability requirements for children's sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children |
| Childcare Article – Pacifier | The nipple can detach from the base, posing as a choking hazard to infants and young children |
| Children’s Products – Water Bottle | The sipper/spout may be removed from the top of the bottle, posing a choking hazard to young children |
| Durable Nursery Products – Napper | The product does not meet the requirements for bassinets under the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations |
| Sports/ Fitness – Bicycle Seat Bag | The rear hook strap can detach from its loop and become entangled in the rear wheel, posing a potential fall hazard to the rider |
Read more: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/index-eng.php?cat=4
EU RAPEX Recall Analysis
In June 2019, there were 66 relevant product recall alerts issued through the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), up 10% from 60 recalls in the previous month. Toys accounted for the majority of product recalls with 37, followed by clothing & accessories with 22 recalls, sports and hobby equipment with 5 recalls and childcare articles with 2 recalls. We’ve highlighted the recalled product categories and hazards below.
| June 2019 – EU RAPEX | |
| Product Categories | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Childcare Articles | There was one recall for a non-compliant child car seat and one for a teether that contains a choking risk |
| Clothing and Fashion Accessories | The majority of recalls were for drawstrings that do not meet the requirements of EN 14682; in addition to bikini products with non-compliant ties at the back of the garment. Chemical recalls resulted from non-compliances in jewellery items for cadmium content and nickel release. |
| Hobby and Sports Equipment | There were several failures due to electrical faults on hoverboards, which may result in burns to the user |
| Toys | There were five recalls this month 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. There were other chemical failures primarily due to phthalate content in toy items and also boron content in ‘slime’ type toys, as well as one failure due to polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content. The other recalls due to small part choking hazards and finger entrapment risks. There were two recalls on labelling non-compliances required by the Greek authorities as the warning information was not displayed in the national language. |
