Firearms: HR 800, introduced February 5 by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), would remove their exclusion from the CPSA definition of consumer product. It is with the Commerce committee.
Plastics: Human health effects were among concerns in recommendations (bit.ly/370K4qO) from US PIRG to the Biden Administration on reducing waste.
OHVs: A January review by Consumer Federation of America found that there were 16 recalls in 2020, similar numbers to 2019 (16), and 2018 (17). Top in its 11-year count was 2017 (24) and bottom was 2011 (1). The tally was 123. See bit.ly/3a5BAAk.
EU Policy: The EU consumer group BEUC February 25 will hold an online debate on improving the "product safety net." To run one-and-a-half hour, it will have eight participants. Expect attention to updating the GPSD for emerging technologies. Details are at bit.ly/2MKZRmI.
ICPHSO: PSL Publisher Sean Oberle is the 2021 recipient of the organization's Ross Koeser Achievement Awards. Learn more at bit.ly/3a0VlZR.
CPSC-Administered Recalls |
Product | Date1 | Company | Hazard | Units2 | Incidents Reported | Sold | Price | Remedy/ Action |
Barbells: Bowflex SelectTec 2080 with curl bar | 2/10/21 | Nautilus | Weight plates can fall from ends | 3,700 | One with property damage but no injury | Jun 2020- Jul 2020 | $550 | Repairs |
Shelving: Muscle Rack heavy duty, steel, 5-tier, numerous model numbers | 2/10/21 | Edsal | Shelve may not support stated weight load | 2.2 million | Seven with one broken toe | Jan 2015- Sep 2020 | $80-$90 | Refunds |
1 Dates in parentheses are original dates for reannouncements. 2Numbers in parentheses are units in joint recalls with Health Canada (C) and/or Mexico’s Profeco (M). (U)=unspecified |
CPSC Calendar * |
When | CPSCers | With/For | Topic/Purpose | Where/How | To Learn More |
Feb 15 1:00p | Hope Nesteruk and others | ASTM F15.18 | Play yard mattress/floor definition | Teleconference | Nesteruk, hnesteruk@cpsc.gov |
Feb 16 1:00p | Hope Nesteruk and others | ASTM F15.66 | Crib mattresses | Teleconference | Nesteruk, hnesteruk@cpsc.gov |
Feb 17 11:00a | Tim Smith and others | ASTM F15.19 | Infant bedding | Teleconference | Smith, tsmith@cpsc.gov |
Feb 17 1:00p | Tim Smith | ANSI Z535 | Safety signs and colors | Teleconference | Smith, tsmith@cpsc.gov |
Feb 17 2:00p | Scott Ayers and others | ASTM F15.72 | Torch fuel containers | Teleconference | Ayers, sayers@cpsc.gov |
Feb 18 10:00a | Celestine Kish and Hope Nesteruk | ASTM F15.18 | Infant inclined sleep products | Teleconference | Kish, ckish@cpsc.gov |
Feb 18 11:00a | Susan Bathalon | ASTM | Drowning detection sensor systems | Teleconference | Bathalon, sbathalon@cpsc.gov |
Feb 19 11:00a | Nevin Taylor | ACT IAC | Artificial intelligence | Teleconference | Taylor, ntaylor@cpsc.gov |
Feb 19 12:30p | Nevin Taylor | ATARC | Artificial intelligence | Teleconference | Taylor, ntaylor@cpsc.gov |
* (w) = webcast will be available on CPSC website; underscored names are commissioners; times are local; teleconferences are EST/EDT. |
ASTM Proposals |
Subject | (Work Item) Standard | Related to | Contact |
Bunk Beds | (WK75726) F1427-19, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bunk Beds | Sections 5.8.1.1 and 5.8.2 | Molly Lynyak, mlynyak@astm.org |
ASTM New, Reapproved and Revised Standards |
Subject | Standard | Contact |
Elliptical Trainers | F2810-15(2020), Standard Specification for Elliptical Trainers | Joe Koury, jkoury@astm.org |
| F2811-15(2020), Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Elliptical Trainers | |
Fitness Equipment | F2571-15(2020), Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Fitness Equipment | Joe Koury, jkoury@astm.org |
Strength Equipment | F3105-20, Standard Specification for Externally Loaded Strength Training Equipment, Strength Training Benches and External Weight Storage Equipment | Joe Koury, jkoury@astm.org |
UL Proposals and Outlines |
Subject | Date | Standard | Related to | Contact |
Air Compressors | 2/5/21 | UL 1450, Motor-Operated Air Compressors, Vacuum Pumps, and Painting Equipment | Cord tags, ultraviolet light test | Elizabeth.Northcott@ul.org |
Air Fresheners | 2/5/21 | UL 283, Air Fresheners and Deodorizers | Power drive systems | Kelly.Smoke@ul.org |
Appliances | 2/5/21 | UL 73, Motor-Operated Appliances | Power drive systems | AnneMarie.Jacobs@ul.org |
Clothes Dryers | 2/5/21 | UL 1240, Electric Commercial Clothes-Drying Equipment | Power drive systems | Amy.K.Walker@ul.org |
Control Panels | 2/5/21 | UL 508A, Industrial Control Panels | Ambient temperature, more | Mitchell.Gold@ul.org |
Distributed Energy | 2/5/21 | UL 1741, Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources | Trunk cables, power connectors, field repairs | Susan.P.Malohn@ul.org |
Electric Heaters | 2/5/21 | UL 2683, Electric Heating Systems for Floor and Ceiling Installation | Heating cable sets | Amy.K.Walker@ul.org |
Fire Extinguishing | 2/5/21 | UL 2166, Halocarbon Clean Agent Extinguishing Systems Units | Nameplate abrasion tests | Nicolette.A.Weeks@ul.org |
Fire Protection | 2/5/21 | UL 33, Heat Responsive Links for Fire-Protection Service | Joint Canadian requirements | Nicolette.A.Weeks@ul.org |
Fire Sprinklers | 2/5/21 | UL 199, Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service | Joint Canadian requirements | Nicolette.A.Weeks@ul.org |
Gas Appliances | 2/5/21 | UL 1738, Venting Systems for Gas-Burning Appliances, Categories II, III, and IV | Temperature ratings, vent diameters | Gillian.Wintonic@ul.org |
Plastic Parts | 2/5/21 | UL 746D, Polymeric Materials - Fabricated Parts | Flame tests | Derrick.L.Martin@ul.org |
Waste Disposers | 2/5/21 | UL 430, Waste Disposers | Power drive systems | AnneMarie.Jacobs@ul.org |
Wire Connectors | 2/5/21 | UL 486C, Splicing Wire Connectors | Flash over tests | Mitchell.Gold@ul.org |
UL New Editions and Revised Standards |
Subject | Date | Standard | Contact |
Baseboard Heating | 2/2/21 | UL 1042, Electric Baseboard Heating Equipment | Amy.K.Walker@ul.org |
Battery Chargers | 2/3/21 | UL 1236, Battery Chargers for Charging Engine-Starter Batteries | Jonette.A.Herman@ul.org |
Cooking Appliances | 2/2/21 | UL 1026, Electric Household Cooking and Food Serving Appliances | Amy.K.Walker@ul.org |
Electric Heaters | 2/2/21 | UL 2021, Fixed and Location-Dedicated Electric Room Heaters | Amy.K.Walker@ul.org |
Hoists | 2/3/21 | UL 1340, Hoists | Kevin.HF.Wu@ul.org |
Plastics | 2/2/21 | UL 746A, Polymeric Materials - Short Term Property Evaluations | Derrick.L.Martin@ul.org |
Non-U.S. Recalls |
Country | Product | Date | Company | Hazard | Incidents Reported | Units | Sold | Remedy/ Action |
Australia | Camp Pots: Alpha and Sigma | 2/8/21 | Sea to Summit | Handle latch can disengage | (U) | (U) | Feb 2019- Dec 2019 | Replacement latches |
| Slap Band Watches: Kaiser Kids, various cartoon characters | 2/9/21 | Kaisercraft | Accessible button batteries | (U) | (U) | Dec 2019- Jan 2021 | Refunds |
Canada | Filet Knives: Rapala Rechargeable RRFN | 2/9/21 | Normark | Batteries can overheat | None | 7,082 | Mar 2011- Dec 2018 | Replacement batteries |
| Fitness Equipment: Progression Fitness X-Plode PFX-2200 | 2/10/21 | Flaman Fitness | Weight stack cable can break | Two with one injury | 62 | Nov 2015- Dec 2019 | Repair kits |
| Insulation Foam: Cyclone low expansion | 2/8/21 | Blym Distribution | Inadequate labeling | None | 181,887 | Aug 2019- Jan 2021 | Disposal |
New Zealand | Miter Saws: Kapex KS 88 and KS 120 | 2/4/21 | Festool | Overheating | (U) | (U) | From 2007 | Repairs |
| Rattles: Baby Maracas | 2/9/21 | Baby Sensory Shop | Handle is choking hazard | (U) | (U) | Apr 2019- Oct 2020 | Refunds |
(U) = Unspecified in the notice. UK Product Safety Database notices appear in a separate chart. |
EU Safety Gate (RAPEX) AND UK Product Safety Database Notices Issued February 5 |
Country | Product (number of notices) | Hazard | Action |
Belgium | Fireworks: Salon Roger Traca 100MTR | Faulty ignition timing | Mandatory withdrawal |
| Toy Drums: Unknown brand Handtrommel | Small parts can detach | Voluntary recall |
| Wood Toys: Unknown brand 16308060 cars | Small parts | Voluntary recall |
Croatia | Outdoor Lights: Unknown brand PO-1803 | Missing safety information | Ban |
Denmark | Hand Disinfectant: Guardson ApS various types | Polyhexanide level | Mandatory withdrawal |
Finland | Toy Jewelry: Hi Swell! HSP1017303 | DINP, DEHP levels | Import rejection |
| Toy Jewelry: Hi Swell! HSP1018120 | DEHP level | Import rejection |
Germany | Car Seats: Recaro Tian Core and Tian Elite | Adjusting can harm harness | Voluntary recall |
Hungary | Desk Lamps: Globo Lighting Décor Lamp 28963 | Poor cable anchoring | Mandatory withdrawal/recall |
| Portable Lamps: ZM Solar Zoom ZM-9599 LED | Cables too thin | Import rejection |
| Toy Guns: Unknown brand Shooting Game E13494 | DEHP, DBP levels | Import rejection |
| Toy Guns: Unknown brand Shooting Gun E13500 | Suction cups detach, DEHP, DBP | Import rejection |
Latvia | Filter Masks: Unknown brand UEACON | Uncertified viral filtering claim | Voluntary withdrawal |
| Filter Masks: Unknown brand Yomasi KN95 | Uncertified viral filtering claim | Voluntary withdrawal |
Luxembourg | Filter Masks: Unknown brand PEC-MS1 | Uncertified conformity claim | Import rejection |
| Filter Masks: Unknown brand Protective Mask | Uncertified conformity claim | Ban, mandatory withdrawal |
| Filter Masks: Xina Protective Mask KN95 | Uncertified CE mark | Ban, mandatory withdrawal |
| Thermal Paper: APLI 7x60x12 10u/pcs | BPA level | Ban |
Poland | Rattles: Huanger Music Lollipop 789-1A | Handle too long | Mandatory withdrawal |
Romania | Sports Outfits: City Cool Collection ZZM–353/7-8 | Hood/waist cords with toggles | Mandatory withdrawal |
Sweden | Hand Disinfectant: ibcccndc unknown types | Insufficient ethanol | Voluntary online renewal |
United Kingdom | Gloves: Lohani dx03 177777 leather, women's | Chromium VI level | Voluntary recall |
