[StBernard] Senate Passes Landrieu Amendment To Improve Product Recall Technology

[Westley Annis]

Senate Passes Landrieu Amendment To Improve Product Recall Technology
Ensures consumers receive timely, accurate product recall information on
toddler/infant products.

 

WASHINGTON - The Senate late yesterday unanimously passed an amendment by
United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., to S. 2663, the "Consumer
Product Safety Commission Reform Act" which requires the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) to study newer, more effective product recall
notification technologies.  The Landrieu amendment also requires the CPSC to
conduct ongoing testing of such technologies in the future and to work with
manufacturers of infant/toddler products to bring more effective recall
technology into the marketplace.   Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Ca.,
co-sponsored the amendment.  

"In the wake of numerous recalls of children's toys and products, it is
essential to ensure that manufacturers are using the best, most advanced
technology to notify consumers of product defects," Sen. Landrieu said.
"When dealing with the safety and health of their children, families expect
nothing less than receiving the best information from manufacturers.  My
amendment will require the CPSC to look at new technologies and bring about
more timely, accurate recall notification procedures in the future.  "  

The CPSC estimates that 66,400 children were seriously injured in the
nursery in 2006, the highest total since 2002 when the agency estimated
67,000.   It is a major increase from 2005, when the figure was 59,800.
2007 saw the record recall of 1,040,000 Simplicity cribs and bassinets,
blamed for killing at least four infants.

To address this issue, S. 2663 includes a provision requiring the CPSC to
come up with rules requiring manufacturers of durable infant and toddler
products to include product registration postcards.  These requirements are
an important step towards encouraging consumers to voluntarily register
themselves with manufacturers in the event of a product recall or defect.  

The Landrieu amendment strengthened the bill by requiring the CPSC, within
one year of enactment, to review whether other, more effective recall
notification technologies exist.  The commission would be required to report
to Congress on this assessment and whether new technologies would result in
higher recall rates than the current postcard method.   If the CPSC
determines more effective technologies exist and are viable, the amendment
would allow the commission to issue regulations for manufacturers to utilize
such new recall technology.

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