Client Alert
Consumer Product Safety Commission Previews Priorities for 2009
January 28, 2009
The Products Liability Group
In a press release intended to clarify some of the new product safety requirements established by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Act), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) revealed some of its priorities for the coming year. Noting that it expects all companies to comply fully with the new laws, the Commission nonetheless warned that resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories and specifically highlighted the following: (1) recalled childrens products, particularly cribs and play yards, (2) childrens products that may contain lead, such as childrens jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys, (3) flimsily-made toys that are easily breakable into small parts, (4) toys that lack the required age warning, and (5) dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened. In a year when the Commission is tasked with implementing the extremely broad provisions of the new Act, this information gives a glimpse into where it will likely focus its enforcement efforts.