Consumer Reports Takes Aim at Ikea and CPSC

Consumer Reports January 9 put pressure on Ikea and CPSC seeking the recall of Hemnes dressers sold by the company. The statements (bit.ly/2Fp17FQ) coincided with an online article (bit.ly/2QDMW1J) faulting the company.

Commentary included a call for CPSC to consider using its power to sue to force recalls: "If Ikea won’t take this action on its own, the government should intervene."

Some statements went beyond Ikea, however, including the suggestion that voluntary standards are insufficient:

"Consumer Reports’ investigation also makes clear that the industry’s current voluntary safety standard is too weak to protect children up to and including age five, as intended… We urge furniture makers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to implement a far stronger stability test."

The article included reactions from Ikea that the dressers meet stability requirements in current voluntary standards and that it has informed CPSC of any known incidents.

ASTM's F2057 on clothing storage units is the target of ongoing discussion by the F15.42 panel for related updates.