The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has provided the following answers to common product recall questions:

Why is a consumer product recalled?

CPSC announces recalls of products that present a significant risk to consumers either because the product may be defective or violates a mandatory standard issued by CPSC.

If a product I have is recalled, does that mean I should stop using it?

Usually yes, but you should follow the specific guidance in CPSC’s recall announcement on that product.

Suppose I have a product that’s been recalled but I don’t hear about the recall until a week, a month, or a year or more later.

How long is a recall in effect?

There is usually no end date to a product recall. Even if you don’t learn of the recall for a year or more, you should follow the guidance in the recall notice the CPSC issues. Call the company at the toll-free number given in CPSC’s news release announcing the recall to secure the remedy. If you are unsuccessful with the company, contact CPSC’s toll-free hotline (800-638-2772). If a product (such as a toy) made by a particular company is recalled, does that mean the company’s other toys and other products are unsafe?

Each recall CPSC announces applies only to the specific brand and model identified in the recall announcement. In many cases, the recall applies only to products manufactured and date coded for specific time periods (e.g. brand “X,” model “Y” manufactured between September 1 and October 17, 2008). Details of each recall are described in CPSC’s recall announcements.

If a product I have is recalled, will I get my money back?

Not necessarily. There is no one-size-fits-all remedy for recalled products. The remedy for consumers is described in each recall announcement.

If I or someone in my family was harmed by a consumer product, or if I believe a product is unsafe, can I report it to CPSC?

Yes, the CPSC welcomes your report about an unsafe product. You can do that by e-mail (hazard@cpsc.gov), phone (800-638-2772, ext. 650), fax (800-809-0924) or by letter (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Injury Report, Washington, DC 20207).

Does CPSC have jurisdiction over all consumer products?

No. CPSC has jurisdiction over more than 15,000 kinds of consumer products used in and around the home, in sports, recreation, and schools. But CPSC doesn’t have jurisdiction over some categories of products. They include automobiles and other on-road vehicles, tires, boats, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, food, drugs, cosmetics, pesticides, and medical devices. The CPSC website has links to the sites of the federal agencies that do have jurisdiction over these products.

Does CPSC test or certify products for safety before they can be sold to consumers?

No. CPSC doesn’t have the legal authority to do that. However, responsible companies test their products before putting them on the market.

Does CPSC recommend specific brands or models of products that are safest for consumers to buy?

No. CPSC doesn’t endorse or recommend specific brands of products. Instead, CPSC provides information to consumers on what safety features to look for in products. In cooperation with manufacturers, CPSC also announces recalls of products that are believed to pose potential risk for serious injury or death.

Does CPSC’s jurisdiction include false advertising, fraud, or poor product quality not related to safety?

No. CPSC’s jurisdiction applies only to consumer product safety. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for handling complaints of false advertising, fraud, and product quality.

How Can I Find Out Which Products Have Been Recalled?

Here are three easy ways:

• Check CPSC’s website at www.cpsc.gov frequently, especially the home page, where CPSC posts new recalls as soon as they are issued, and the Recalls section, where you can search by product type or description, company, and date of recall.
• Use “Search” on the website to search by product type (e.g., toys) or product name.
• Join the recalls e-mail subscription list to get CPSC’s recall notices automatically the same day they issue them. You can sign up for the e-mail list at https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Who Is the Consumer Product Safety Commission and How Do They Help Me?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an Independent Federal Regulatory Agency that does not report to nor is part of any other department or agency in the federal government. It was created in 1972 by Congress under the Consumer Product Safety Act and began operating in 1973. In the Consumer Product Safety Act, Congress directed CPSC to protect the public “against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products.”

The Commission, therefore, is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The Commission’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals—has contributed significantly to the 30% decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. They do this by:

• developing voluntary standards with industry
• issuing and enforcing mandatory standards or banning consumer products if no feasible standard would adequately protect the public
• obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair
• conducting research on potential product hazards
• informing and educating consumers through the media, state and local governments, private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries

Stay Informed

• The CPSC publishes a free monthly e-newsletter called The Safety Review that offers an in-depth look at the latest hazards associated with home and recreational products. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/tsr.html

• You can find information on over 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts using the various searches on www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub

• Six federal agencies have joined together to create www.recalls.gov, a one-stop shop for U.S. Government recalls. The six agencies posting information on this site are:

CSPC Consumer Product Safety Commission (Consumer Products)
FDA Food and Drug Administration (Foods, Medicines, Cosmetics)
USDA US Department of Agriculture (Meat and Poultry Products)
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Motor Vehicles, Car Seats)
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Products)
USCG United States Coast Guard (Boats and Boating Safety)