Consumers Groups Urge More Attention to Recall Effectiveness

Consumer groups September 12 pushed commissioners for more attention to recall effectiveness. Discussion included concerns about whether companies are fulfilling what they pledge to do in corrective action plans as well as the difficulty for those outside CPSC to look into such questions due to 6(b) barriers to getting progress reports.

Other topics included ways CPSC can improve partnering with outside groups such as state childcare agencies and pediatricians. However, the visitors emphasized that they saw the onus to be on companies to promote recalls, emphasizing that care workers and doctors are busy with their primary duties. As often arises in such discussions, there was mention of the disparity between companies' strong abilities to connect with consumers for marketing and less so with recalls.

Visiting were Kids in Danger (KID), U.S. PIRG, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Childcare Aware of America. They met with the offices of Commissioners Robert Adler, Ann Marie Buerkle, Peter Feldman, and Elliot Kaye. PSL attended the session with Adler.

The impetuses were two recent reports: KID's on finding problems with recall websites and social media efforts (PSL, 9/9/19) and another it did with PIRG on finding recalled inclined sleepers commonly still in childcare facilities (PSL, 8/12/19).

CPSC the day before had issued a release (bit.ly/2lMGpYT) urging consumers to check their homes for recalled products. The move was linked to Baby Safety Month (September).