Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman Withdraws The Consumer Product Safety Commission From ICPHSO
July 28, 2025, cpsc.gov
Acting Chairman Feldman’s letter says, in part, “As the Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), I write to notify you that the Commission is withdrawing its organizational membership from the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO). Effective immediately. This action is being taken to avoid any actual or perceived conflicts of interest and to ensure the continued integrity and impartiality of the Commission’s mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products.”

Trump Suspends De Minimis Exemption For Low-Value Imports
July 30, 2025, CBS News Money Watch
President Trump signed an executive order suspending what’s known as a de minimis exemption allowing low-value parcels that are shipped to the United States to avoid tariffs. The White House said it’s closing what it called a “catastrophic loophole” that shippers use to “evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids or below-market products” into the U.S. The exemption had applied to parcels valued at $800 or less, and allowed overseas retailers to ship inexpensive goods to consumers in the U.S. tax-free. Customs and Border Patrol processes more than 4 million de minimis shipments to the U.S. daily, according to the White House.

Designing for crisis: What public safety tech can teach the broader tech industry
July 8, 2025 
Technology companies are navigating constant challenges—from cyber attacks to regulation to economic uncertainty to AI disruption. But there’s one tech vertical that has been built to thrive under these conditions: public safety technology. While consumer tech has often prioritized speed, convenience and rapid iteration, public safety technology needs to do all that and be built to withstand the worst days. It prioritizes reliability in crisis, security by design and deep responsiveness to customer needs. In today’s fast-moving landscape, here are five key lessons any technology company can take from the public safety.

Senate Committee Advances Bill That Would Preserve Chemical Safety Board Funding
July 29, 2025, safety and health magazine.com
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would maintain the Chemical Safety Board’s current budget through fiscal year 2026. The bill allocates $14.4 million to the agency. That’s considerably more than a counterpart House appropriations bill, which allocates $8.2 million. The Trump administration once again has sought to eliminate CSB in its FY 2026 budget proposal. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the agency was on the chopping block each fiscal year, but Congress chose to provide funding to the agency each time.

Product Safety: The Innocent Child In The Messy CPSC Divorce
July 29, 2025
Author Ken D’Entremont offers this analysis of the current situation at the CPSC. “The United States is navigating a new era of regulatory oversight and the balance of power between federal and state regulators following the 2024 election cycle. As federal agencies retreat from and/or realign their regulatory enforcement priorities, state attorneys general (AGs) are increasingly taking the lead in policing companies — especially those that are consumer-facing. During the first half of 2025, state AGs actively adapted to the evolving regulatory landscape.”

European Union Tightens E-Commerce Rules For Safety
July 331, 2025, CertPro
The European Union is tightening e-commerce and import regulations to boost consumer protection, product safety, and fair competition. The European Parliament has called for reforms including implementing the Digital Product Passport, updating customs rules, and removing the EUR 150 duty exemption on low-value imports. Businesses selling in the EU should prepare for stricter requirements and greater liability, especially for non-EU platforms.  

CPSC Organization Chart As Of July 29, 2025
July 2025, cpsc.gov
CPSC: Stop Using Aemerry Hair Growth Serums; Violates Mandatory Standard For Child-Resistant Packaging; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
July 31, 2025, Cpsc.Gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Is Warning Consumers To Immediately Stop Using Aemerry Hair Growth Serums. The Hair Serums Contain Minoxidil And Must Be In Child Resistant Packaging As Required By The Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The Packaging Is Not Child-Resistant, Posing A Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Poisoning If The Serum Is Swallowed By Young Children.

CPSC: Stop Using Aemerry Hair Growth Serums; Violates Mandatory Standard For Child-Resistant Packaging; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
July 31, 2025, Cpsc.Gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Is Warning Consumers To Immediately Stop Using Aemerry Hair Growth Serums. The Hair Serums Contain Minoxidil And Must Be In Child Resistant Packaging As Required By The Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The Packaging Is Not Child-Resistant, Posing A Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Poisoning If The Serum Is Swallowed By Young Children.

New Safety Rules For Residential Pools: Only A Few Weeks Left To Comply
July 29, 2025, educaloi.qc.ca
New safety rules came into effect in July 2021, but not everyone had to follow them right away. If your pool was installed before November 1, 2020, you have until September 30, 2025 to comply. Haven’t updated your setup yet? The deadline is coming fast! Here’s a quick look at the rules you should know, and how they apply to you.

The Growing Threat Of Battery Fires From E-Scooters And E-Bikes In The UK
July 28, 2025, MSN
Firefighters face growing challenges presented by electric vehicles and need new training and equipment, the leader of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said. Steve Wright, who took over as general secretary of the FBU earlier this year, said illegally modified e-bikes and scooters were a particular concern. The Office for Product Safety recently reported that there were at least 211 e-scooter and e-bike fires last year, including five that caused fatalities. The figure in 2020 was 26.

Play Kitchens Recalled After Toddler Dies By Strangulation
July 31, 2025, Grey Local Media
Backyard Kids is recalling nearly 200,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchens due to strangulation hazards after the death of a toddler in Oregon. According to the . Consumer Product Safety Commission, Backyard Kids has voluntarily agreed to recall and provide free replacement hooks for about 192,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens, “even though only about 400 of the 192,000 recalled units were sold to consumers by Backyard Kids.”The recalled units were originally manufactured by KidKraft, Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in May 2024.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Firing Of Consumer Product Safety Commission Members
June 13, 2025, Big Rapids Pioneer (Associated Press)
A federal judge has blocked the terminations of three Democratic members of the CPSC after they were fired by President Donald Trump in his effort to assert more power over independent federal agencies. After suing the Trump administration last month, the fired commissioners received a ruling in their favor, which likely will be appealed. Federal statute states that the president can fire commissioners “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause” — allegations that have not been made against the commissioners in question. But attorneys for the Trump administration assert that the statute is unconstitutional because the president’s authority extends to dismissing federal employees who “exercise significant executive power,” according to court filings.

CPSC Changes: Observations From A Former Employee
June 9, 2025, Product Safety Letter
by Marc J. Schoem. Originally published in the Product Safety Letter  in his individual capacity and as a former Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations at CPSC. This article is not made on behalf of ICPHSO or CPSC, which have neither reviewed nor endorsed the content below. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the position of ICPHSO on this or any related matter.

Mr. Schoem writes, “During the 1960s, product safety concerns were managed by multiple government agencies. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation establishing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which was granted primary responsibility for consumer product safety by Congress…Since its inception, the agency has been led by a bipartisan commission that sets policy and guides the work of dedicated staff. From my earliest days at CPSC, the staff who worked at the Commission had an endless supply of passion and enthusiasm to help make consumer products safer thereby reducing the potential for consumer injuries. This advocacy continues to this day and hopefully won’t change in the future. Without the dedicated staff advancing product safety the world loses.”

Acting Chairman Peter Feldman Announces Key Senior Staff Appointments
June 12, 2025, cpsc.gov
Peter A. Feldman, Acting Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the following senior staff appointments: Tripp DeMoss has joined Acting Chairman Feldman’s office as Senior Counsel and White House Liaison, Tripp most recently was as an attorney at Balch & Bingham LLP. Tripp’s career spans well over a decade in law and government. Noah Vehafric has been appointed to serve as Special Assistant to Acting Chairman Feldman. Prior to joining CPSC, Noah was an associate at AxAdvocacy, a public affairs and government relations firm. Noah has also held roles at The Heritage Foundation and Americans for Tax Reform, focusing on tech and telecom issues.

Harvard Business Review: Organizations Aren’t Ready For The Risks Of Agentic AI
June 13, 2025, Harvard Business Review
It’s virtually impossible to have a conversation about the future of business without talking about AI. What’s more, the technology is evolving at a furious pace. What started as AI chatbots and image generators are becoming AI “agents”—AI systems that can execute a series of tasks without being given specific instructions. No one knows exactly how all this will play out, but details aside, leaders are considering the very real possibility of wide-scale organizational disruption.

Dolls To Downloads: Courts Reimagine Product Liability For The Digital Age
June 12, 2025, Techpolicy.press
Kids today spend their allowance money on virtual bundles in apps. Their coloring books and board games are digital. Children (and adults alike) play and engage daily with digital products. Sometimes, they also get injured by them. Courts are increasingly recognizing this. And courts are recognizing that manufacturers of such digital products have the same responsibilities to provide safe products as manufacturers of physical goods, especially when those users are children.

EU: Agreement On Product Safety For Detergents In The Single Market
June 12, 2025, Pub Affairs Bruxelles
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on Product Safety For Detergents And Surfactants proposed by the Commission in April 2023. The changes will strengthen product safety and improve market access for all detergent products, including innovative microbial cleaning solutions. A key feature is the introduction of a digital product passport, accessible via tools like QR codes. These passports will be required at EU borders, including online sales.

Managing Forever Chemicals: The Road Ahead For PFAS Policy
June 11, 2025, conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/
Since the mid-20th century, PFAS have been promoted as revolutionary materials. These chemicals are used in thousands of products, from everyday household items to critical components of modern infrastructure. Growing scientific evidence now shows that despite their versatility, PFAS degrade extremely slowly. Over time, their accumulation in the environment can lead to a wide range of serious health impacts. This article explores the latest developments surrounding PFAS and examine what the coming short-, medium-, and long-term responses might look like.

New EPA Data Shows 165M People Exposed To ‘Forever Chemicals’ In U.S. Drinking Water
June 12, 2025, Environmental Working Group
New data released by the Environmental Protection Agency shows an additional 6.5 million Americans have drinking water contaminated by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. It brings the total number of people at risk of drinking this contaminated tap water to about 165 million across the U.S. That’s a 4% increase in the number of Americans with verified PFAS-polluted water in just the last few months. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancer, reproductive harm, immune system damage and other serious health problems, even at low levels. “It is impossible to ignore the growing public health crisis of PFAS exposure. It’s detectable in nearly everyone and it’s found nearly everywhere, including the drinking water for a huge segment of the population,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group.

CPSC: Stop Using Joyracer Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (Atvs) Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Collision And Crash Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
June 12, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Joyracer 500w Dirt Quad Electric ATVs. The youth ATVs are missing a tail lamp, stop lamp and all required safety reflectors, reducing visibility of the ATV to other vehicles, posing a collision hazard. The handlebars also fail to comply with ATV safety requirements, posing a deadly laceration hazard. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Joyracer, of China. Joyracer has been unresponsive to repeated CPSC requests for information about this product and is not offering a remedy to consumers.  

Amazon Urged To Ban Sale Of ‘Unsafe’ E-Bikes In UK
June 14, 2025, The Times
Amazon is being urged to crack down on the sale of modified electric bikes that can travel at 40 miles per hour and run on batteries that are prone to bursting into flames. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking has written to the head of Amazon in the UK, urging the retailer to immediately halt sales of the bikes and all equipment that is used to convert legitimate electric bikes into so-called “fake e-bikes.” The group, chaired by the Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, is also calling on ministers to implement tighter controls on the sale of e-bikes.

Democrats: Representatives Press CPSC On Withdrawal Battery Safety Standard Proposal Withdrawal
June 10, 2025, Congressional Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) wrote to Acting Chairman Peter Feldman and Commissioner Douglas Dziakof the CPSC. The letter was in response to them overturning a recent move to issue a proposed regulation establishing a federal safety standard for lithium-ion batteries in micro-mobility devices. Their letter, reads, in part, “Manufacturers in the PRC are overwhelmingly the source of these dangerous products reaching the U.S. market. As noted, the Commission reports that “most” or “nearly all” micromobility platforms being sold in the United States are imported products made in the PRC. Additionally, where there are domestic manufacturers of micromobility devices, most of the lithium-ion batteries they use are typically imported from the PRC.”

Washington State Would Require Reporting Of Intentionally Added PFAS In Cookware
June 10, 2025, Keller & Heckman (Packaginglaw.com)
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DoE) proposed revising “Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting,” to adopt restrictions and reporting requirements related to the intentional use of PFAS in certain product categories. With respect to food-contact materials, the proposed rule requires manufacturers to report the intentional use of PFAS to the food-contact surface of durable cookware and kitchen supplies. Under the proposed rule, detection of total fluorine will be presumed to mean PFAS are intentionally added.

Illinois Expands PFAS Ban, Targets Common Consumer Products In New Law
June 10, 2025, E+E Leader
Illinois has enacted one of the most comprehensive state-level bans on products containing intentionally added PFAS, targeting a wide range of consumer goods commonly found in households. Under House Bill 2516, the sale, distribution, or offering for sale of PFAS-laden products will be prohibited in Illinois starting January 1, 2026. The ban includes cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, juvenile products, menstrual products, intimate apparel and food packaging and food contact materials.

Recalls And Claims Amid A Sea Of Regulatory Change
June 5, 2025, Claims Journal
The current regulatory and claims environment for products, food and beverage, automobiles, medical devices, and more, is rapidly shifting. This amid layoffs at the federal level, slowdowns on inspections, and the potential for reduced enforcement. In response, business leaders are working to stay up to date on policy changes to maintain compliance.

New York City Mayor Wants To Force E-Bikes/Scooters To Slow Down
June 5, 2025, New York Times
Mayor Eric Adams has escalated a crackdown on electric bicycles and scooters by proposing a speed limit of 15 miles per hour for the increasingly popular vehicles. This is significantly slower than the requirement for cars. “I have heard, over and over again, from New Yorkers about how their safety — and the safety of their children — has been put at risk due to speeding e-bikes and e-scooters,” Mr. Adams said in a statement. Motor-assisted bicycles and electric scooters have multiplied across the streets of New York City as the trend of micro-mobility — the use of small, personal and powered vehicles — has taken root in many urban centers nationwide. But the vehicles have stirred public safety concerns even as cars remain involved in the vast majority of serious traffic crashes.

It’s Time To Update How Your Company Talks About Sustainability
June 5, 2025, Harvard Business Review
Businesses face increasing political pushback and legal threats against their environmental and social initiatives, leading many to under-communicate or shut down sustainability efforts. However, silence can erode consumer trust and miss out on the growing business value of climate initiatives, such as lowered costs and risk reduction. Instead, companies need a transparent sustainability communications strategy that is positive, clear and committed. Leaders should implement three strategies: Understand and address the expectations of employees and customers, connect emotionally with audiences through stories and facts and move beyond traditional sustainability reports.

Infant Cushion Safety Rule Challenged In D.C. Appeals Court
June 4, 2025, Consumer Affairs 
The Consumer Product Safety Commission routinely passes new rules, a process that sometimes doesn’t go over well with the manufacturers of those products. Such is the fate of a rule enacted on May 5 to protect infants from suffocating. The commission took the action after it found that “infant support cushions” had contributed to unsafe sleep conditions, leading to 17 known deaths in 2020 and at least 17 more deaths in 2021. Taking issue with the rule is The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), which is urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate the new safety rule. The NCLA claims the CPSC overstepped its authority and used an improper process to enforce the regulation.

CPSC Offers Important Pool Safety Tips 
June 5, 2025, cpsc.gov
Consumer products present significant injury risks to older Americans, sending more than three million seniors to the hospital each year. Consumer products are associated with 41,000 senior deaths each year. according to CPSC’s most recent report. CPSC is emphasizing the importance of keeping older adults safe during June—National Safety Month. “CPSC continues to carry out its vital mission and is outpacing key safety and performance metrics from recent years, including with respect to senior safety,” said Acting Chairman Peter Feldman.

New York Post: ‘Defective’ Chinese Tools Linked To Deaths, Injuries
June 4, 2025, nypost.com
Allegedly defective tools and hardware from a China-based seller on Amazon have been linked to two deaths and at least one serious injury, the Post has learned. The seller, Vevor, has amassed 1,430 Better Business Bureau complaints over allegedly faulty products and poor customer service. Amazon’s liability over defective third-party products has become a thorny question, with laws and legal outcomes varying from state to state. The company has typically argued that it is not directly responsible for products sold on its site that are manufactured by outside firms. 

CPSC: Stop Using NEWDERY Power Banks Due To Fire/Burn Hazards; Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death
June 5, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using NEWDERY power banks, model ZHX-PB22 because they pose a risk of serious injury and death. The lithium-ion battery in the defective power banks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. CPSC has received nine reports of the defective power banks exploding and igniting, including one report of a serious fire resulting in $2 million in property damage and one report of a burn injury. The importer, Shenzhen Xinkewangda Electronics Co. Ltd., of China, has refused to conduct a recall. 

European Consumer Organizations File Complaint Against Shein
June 5, 2025, Fashion Network
Twenty-five European consumer organizations have lodged a joint complaint against Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein. The complaint accuses the company of misleading consumers and promoting overconsumption through manipulative design elements on its website and mobile app. The complaint, addressed to European regulators, alleges that Shein employs so-called ‘dark patterns’—techniques designed to subconsciously influence consumer behavior. These include fake discounts, countdown timers, misleading low-stock alerts and endless scrolling features.

Shein Claims Boost In Product Safety Standards; 2.5m Testing Goal For 2025
June 3, 2025, msn.com 
Shein anticipates an investment of approximately $15m in compliance activities for the year 2025. This investment will support an ambitious goal of conducting over 2.5 million product safety and quality assessments within the year, marking a 25% increment from the previous year. The company claims its product safety protocol to comply with pertinent laws and regulations, as well as the company’s internal safety standards that correspond with regulatory and industry benchmarks. These include the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).

20 Tons Of Batteries Recycled In First Year Of Portland’s Curbside Program
June 4, 2025, Portland.gov
In the city’s first year of curbside battery collection, Portlanders safely taped, bagged, and set out more than 20 tons of batteries in their glass recycling bins. That’s 20 tons of batteries not sitting in landfills—or worse, sparking fires in garbage and recycling trucks or facilities. That means fewer fires, safer workers, and a cleaner environment for everyone.

CPSC: Record Enforcement Actions Against Chinese Manufacturers
May 27, 2025, Foley & Lardner LLP (National Law Review)
On May 15, 2025, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced record enforcement actions against foreign violators. Many of these actions were taken “unilaterally,” meaning the Commission issued press releases warning consumers of potentially hazardous products without final approval from the products’ manufacturer or retailer. The CPSC announced 28 separate product safety recalls and warnings for products manufactured in China. This includes a “first-of-its-kind enforcement sweep of off-brand Chinese faucets found to leach lead and other contaminates into U.S. drinking water.” 

Maryland Judge Denies Request To Allow Fired Federal Employees To Work During Pending Lawsuit
May 28, 2025, WJZ News
A Maryland judge denied a request that would have allowed three former Consumer Product Safety Commissioners to return to work while their case is litigated in court. Former President Joe Biden’s appointees Richard Trumka, Mary Boyle and Alexander Hoehn-Saric were informed of their removal earlier in May. The three former federal workers claim in a lawsuit that President Trump illegally fired them without cause. They sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would allow them to continue working, which was turned down.

Commissioner Douglas Dziak: Regarding CPSC Recall Of Adult Portable Bedrails
May 29, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) issued a record recall of almost 95,000 units of two models of adult portable bed rails (APBRs). These products violate the required safety standards. This recall is in addition to another recent APBR product safety warning. Commissioner Dziak has made decreasing hazards for seniors a priority.

The Power Of Mattering At Work
May-June, 2025, Harvard Business Review: The Magazine
Quiet quitting, the Great Resignation, chronically low engagement numbers and increasing numbers of labor disputes—business leaders have been warily watching these trends for years and fighting each fire separately. But the trends continue, because leaders are missing the underlying problem that connects these symptoms: Many employees don’t feel that they matter to their employers, bosses and colleagues. Mattering is the experience of feeling significant to those around us because we feel valued and know that we add value. In this article the author shows leaders how to apply this concept in the workplace. 

E-Scooters: UK Public Sees Environmental/Affordability Benefits, Safety Fears Remain
May 28, 2025, Ipsos
A new study from Ipsos UK reveals that 61% of British adults believe e-scooters negatively impact pedestrian safety. However, around 2 in 5 see e-scooters as positive for the environment (39%) and cost of travel (40%). According to Ipsos, the research suggests a need for targeted interventions, such as improved infrastructure and stricter enforcement of traffic laws, to mitigate these risks and unlock the full potential of e-scooters as a sustainable mode of transport.

Product Recalls May Spike Amid Tariffs And Lighter Oversight
May 27, 2025, Insurance Journal
The US could see a spike in product recalls across key industries, including food, consumer goods, and automotive, as global supply chains shift under the pressure of tariffs and regulatory changes. The strain of tariffs could force many companies to source cheaper materials or shift to new suppliers, often without adequate time to vet these sources. In industries where safety and quality are paramount this can be risky, according to Chris Harvey, senior vice president of client services at Sedgwick.

PFAS Could Be Replaced With Safe Graphene Oxide Solution
May 28, 2025, Northwestern.edu
Northwestern University researchers have developed a new water- and oil-resistant material that could become a safe, viable replacement for harmful PFAS in food packaging. Derived from graphene oxide, the material is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and affordable. When applied to paper-based food and beverage packaging, the material not only provides exceptional barrier properties but also significantly enhances the product’s overall strength.

CPSC: Stop Using Aiho Dressers Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Tip-Over/Entrapment Hazards; Violations Of The STURDY Act; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
May 29, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Aiho dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in injuries or death to children. The dressers violate the performance and labeling requirements of the STURDY Act and CPSC’s implementing regulations. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Shenzhen Yiqun Technology Co. Ltd., dba Aiho Inc., of China. Aiho has not responded to CPSC’s repeated request to recall these dressers or offer a remedy to consumers.

Over 100,000 Kitchen Faucets Sold On Amazon Recalled Due To Harmful Levels Of Lead Exposure
May 29, 2025, CBS News
More than 100,000 kitchen faucets have been recalled because they could lead to dangerous levels of lead exposure according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Three different faucets models, manufactured in China and sold under the brands Vfauosit, Kicimpro and Basdehen, were determined unsafe after tests revealed they contain lead that could leak into the water supply and cause harm to young infants and children. Lead ingestion can “cause harmful neurological effects on infants and young children, including attention-related behavioral problems, decreased cognitive performance and lower IQ,” the CPSC says in the recall notices.

Fast-Fashion Brand Shein Increasing Safety After EU Warning
May 29, 2025, CTV News
Fast-fashion retailer Shein said it would increase its testing of products this year, after the European Union warned of fines if it does not address the bloc’s concerns about unsafe and dangerous products sold on its site. Shein said it targets 2.5 million product safety and quality tests in 2025, up from two million last year, and said it would spend US$15 million on compliance initiatives this year. The EU’s Consumer Protection Co-operation network of national consumer authorities and the European Commission notified Shein of practices that infringe EU consumer law, giving the company a month to reply.

Dallas City Council Approves Ambitious Bike Plan To Improve Safety, Access
May 28, 2025, CBS News
The Dallas City Council unanimously approved a sweeping bike plan aimed at making cycling safer and more accessible across the city. Rebekah Kornblum, an experienced cyclist and president of the Dallas Bicycle Coalition, said she feels comfortable biking in Dallas but knows that’s not the case for everyone. “For someone who is not as confident on a bike, or maybe they want to bike with their kids, I understand that they don’t feel safe,” she said.

State Attorney General Enforcement Under The CPSA
May 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission can work with State Attorneys General to protect the public from dangerous consumer products using Section 24 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (“CPSA”). State Attorneys General have the authority to enforce certain provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act under Section 24 of the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2073. The CPSA requires written notice prior to taking action under Section 24.

Fired Product Safety Commission Members Sue Trump Administration Over Terminations
May 21, 2025, Reuters
Three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have sued the Trump administration alleging their terminations were unlawful. Commissioners Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric and Richard Trumka Jr filed their lawsuit in the federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Each was appointed by former President Joe Biden to the five-member commission. They said in their lawsuit that the Republican Trump administration illegally terminated them without cause and with no explanation. They alleged the terminations violated restrictions on the president’s power to remove members of independent agencies such as the CPSC. Commissioners can be removed by the president only for neglect of duty or malfeasance, the lawsuit said.

Advocacy: Deadly Furniture, Unsafe Infant Sleepers, Toxic Toys, And More Reasons To Save The CPSC
May 20, 2025, Consumer Reports
A government agency responsible for protecting Americans from unsafe products now needs protection itself, according to Consumer Reports. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has oversight of more than 15,000 categories of products whose safety we tend to take for granted. Since January, executive orders, staff reductions and a hiring freeze in the federal government have been chipping away at the agency’s authority and independence. “Americans rely on the CPSC to create sensible rules, enforce our safety laws, stop dangerous imports at the border and hold companies accountable for wrongdoing,” says Gabe Knight, senior safety policy analyst for Consumer Reports.

Sen. Cantwell Demands Answers From Trump Administration On Illegal Plan To Eliminate The CPSC
May 22, 2025, U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, demanded answers from CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman on plans to eliminate the Commission and move its functions to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and created the CPSC in 1972 to protect Americans from hazardous consumer products that present an unreasonable risk of injury and death. In passing the CPSA, Congress made a deliberate choice to create an independent agency; and rejected calls to incorporate the consumer product safety functions within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare,” Senator Cantwell wrote in a letter to the Acting Chairman.  

How To Rescue A Failing Strategy
May 23, 2025, Harvard Business Review
Many companies aspire to coordinate a sustained, cross-functional response to rapidly evolving market conditions, and many fail. Winning companies in their environment share two traits. First is their willingness and ability to embrace the change and move forward, even with imperfect information and even if they have to change course midstream. Second is their determination that, even while improvising, they’re guided by four points of a compass: cash, commercial effectiveness, customers and risk. Companies that keep this compass in front of them set themselves apart by translating acute challenges into the very means of achieving competitive advantage and learning as they go.

Sens. Whitehouse And Graham Introduce “Closing The De Minimis Loophole”Act
May 22, 2025, Furniture Today
Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the “Closing the De Minimis Loophole” Act, bipartisan legislation to end the “de minimis” exemption. In a release from the senators, supporters of the legislation say it would stem the flow of illicit drugs into U.S. and protect the competitiveness of American manufacturers. De minimis has become a gateway facilitating four million packages a day valued at $800 or less, often containing illegal, unsafe and unethical products made with forced labor. 

Recalls Can Create A Multitude Of Legal Problems
May 2025, InCompliance
When a recall is implemented, it hopefully solves the safety issue. But that doesn’t always happen, as author Ken Ross explains. “First, you rarely are 100% successful in retrieving the product or repairing it. And, of course, the occurrence of an accident involving a recalled product can be very difficult to defend.  Even worse, an accident involving a product that was unsuccessfully repaired by the manufacturer can be even harder to defend,” Ross concludes.

New Study: More Kids Are Swallowing Magnets, Despite Stricter Safety Rules
May 21, 2025, ABC News 7
Despite more safety rules, kids around the world continue swallowing magnets, and the United States tops the list. Magnet swallowing has posed a danger to kids in the U.S. for over a decade. Ingestions dropped in 2014 after the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned high-powered magnet sets. But when the ban was overturned in 2016, cases rose again, especially among kids under age 14, according to a new study published in the medical journal BMJ Injury Prevention.

European Product Recalls Reach The Highest Quarterly Total In 11 Years
May 22, 2025, Sedgwick
European product recalls surpassed 3,500 for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q1 2025, reaching 3,925 events across five key industries. According to Sedgwick brand protection’s latest European Product Safety and Recall Index report, this is the highest quarterly total in 11 years. Sedgwick’s Index report analyses recall data across the UK and EU automotive, consumer product, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season: CPSC Tips To Keep Americans Safe
May 21, 2025, cpsc.gov
June 1 marks the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, fires and electric shock after hurricanes and severe storms hit. “These storms bring along with them power, devastation and destruction of their own,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “However, the dangers associated with these storms do not end when the winds and rain subside. I urge all Americans to follow CPSC’s safety tips this hurricane season to do their best to be safe before, during and after the storms.”

CPSC: Stop Using Queerick Infant Swings Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Suffocation; Multiple Federal Safety Violations; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
May 15, 2025, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents to “immediately” stop using certain infant swings that may cause serious injury, or even death. The CPSC is warning against using Queerick Infant Swings, because they pose a suffocation hazard, as the swings were marketed for infant sleep and have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees — in violation of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act and the federal Infant Sleep Products Rule. “These infant swings create an unsafe sleeping environment for infants and can cause death or serious injury to infants,” stated the CPSC.

CPSC: Stop Using Sofree, Kudsq And Crayan Mattresses Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Fire Hazard; No Recall/Remedy Offered
May 22, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Inch SoFree, Kudsq and Crayan mattresses. The mattresses violate federal safety regulations and pose a risk of serious injury or death because they fail to contain a fire if ignited by an open flame. In addition, the mattresses do not have the required labeling. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the importer SCM Co. of Denver, Colorado.  Comfort SCM Co. has not agreed to recall these mattresses or offer a remedy to consumers.

Trump Fires All 3 Democrats On The Consumer Product Safety Commission
May 9, 2025, NPR
President Donald Trump moved to fire the three Democratic commissioners on the five-person Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), his administration’s latest test to the limits of presidential power over independent agencies. Democratic Commissioners Alex Hoehn-Saric, Mary Boyle and Richard L. Trumka Jr., said in statements that they received emails from the White House notifying them of their firings. The firings come as consumer protection groups and lawmakers warn that Trump may be attempting to dismantle the entire CPSC. The three Democratic commissioners said in a statement that they planned to oppose their dismissals in court.

Commissioner Trumka: CPSC Protects Babies From Lethal Infant Pillow Suffocation Risk
May 5, 2025, cpsc.gov
Commissioner Trumka’s statement says, in part, “With CPSC’s new standard in place, these pillows must now be firm enough to prevent suffocation and flat enough to prevent the hazardous inclined positioning of a baby’s head and neck.  The products must also pass tests for entrapment and fall hazards. This is a major piece of the safe infant sleep puzzle. When combined with CPSC’s recently effective rule to make nursing pillows safer, CPSC’s broad infant sleep products rule and CPSC’s bans on inclined sleepers and crib bumpers it closes one of the largest remaining product safety gaps contributing to unsafe sleep.

How To Prevent Strategy Fatigue
April 4, 2025, Harvard Business Review
Strategy fatigue is on the rise. But talented managers on the receiving end of multiple and frequent strategy shifts will lose motivation and energy—and they will leave. To reduce this danger, CEOs need to impose some discipline on the growing tendency to try out the strategy du jour. Before inflicting their shiny new ideas on their people, they should: (1) Use clear screening criteria to evaluate whether a new idea or project aligns with the company’s strategic direction; (2) Apply data-based scoring frameworks to rank ideas by impact and feasibility; (3) Set up proof-of-concept experiments; and (4) Maintain a single, visible pipeline.

Sens. Wyden, Merkley Join Call On Trump Administration To Reverse Plans To Eliminate CPSC
May 8, 2025, Sen. Ron Wyden
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) have joined dozens of lawmakers from the Senate and House in urging the Trump administration to reverse plans to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). “Since its inception, the CPSC has played a vital role safeguarding American families, and in particular infants, children, and older Americans,” the lawmakers wrote Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought in a letter about the bipartisan, independent commission. “Thanks to the CPSC’s critical work, residential fires and fire-related deaths have decreased by over 40 percent. Crib deaths and child poisoning has dropped by 80 percent. The Commission’s work continues today, identifying emerging threats and protecting Americans from dangerous and banned imported products.”

Report: E-Scooters Perceived As Most Dangerous Form Of Transport In Ireland
May 9, 2025, The Irish Times
Nearly a quarter of regular e-scooter users have been involved in a collision, while one in three have experienced a near miss, research published by the Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA) has found. The report found that e-scooters were now perceived as the most dangerous form of transport in Ireland, surpassing motorcycles in terms of perceived risk. Of those surveyed, 80 per cent said they believed e-scooters were “not very safe” or “not at all safe”, compared with 70 per cent of participants who thought motorcycles were unsafe. Dr John Cronin, emergency medicine consultant and an RSA board member, said e-scooters “offer real mobility benefits”, but also “bring a high risk of injury.”

Experts Say New Trump Plans Targeting Forever Chemicals ‘Raise Serious Red Flags’
May 3, 2025, wrex.com
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new list of measures targeting PFAS. But public health experts have concerns about what that list doesn’t include. “There are a lot of vague promises in what was announced this week, but honestly, it really doesn’t treat the PFAS crisis as, frankly, the five-alarm fire for public health that it is,” said Dr. Erik Olson, senior strategic director for health in the environmental health program at the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. “The key decisions that they were supposed to be making on those two things, they’re completely silent on.”

Igloo Expands Recall Of 90 Qt. Rolling Coolers Due To Fingertip Amputation And Crushing Hazards: Total Recalled Now Nearly 1.2 Million
May 8, 2025, cpsc.gov
About 130,000 additional coolers have been recalled. This, in addition to about 20,000 in Canada and 5,900 in Mexico). More than one million Igloo coolers were previously recalled in February 2025. The tow handle can pinch consumers’ fingertips against the cooler, posing fingertip amputation and crushing hazards.

EPA To Dissolve Research Office
May 2, 2025, eenews
EPA will cut staffing to Reagan-era levels and gut its stand-alone Office of Research and Development, Administrator Lee Zeldin said. The agency will move some scientists in its research office to other divisions, with the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention set to gain “more than 130 scientific, bioinformatic, technical, and information technology experts,” the agency said in a news release. That office is charged with reviewing new chemicals and pesticides.

CPSC: Power Of Open Data
April 2025, cpsc.gov/data
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) believes in the power of open data and being accessible to the public. This is why the agency makes data, deliberations and decisions, accessible to consumers, developers and stakeholders, in accordance with the Open Government Initiative.

Everyone Wants Integrity, But No One Knows How To Measure It
May 2, 2025, Forbes
When it comes to leadership, few qualities are praised more universally—or more naively—than integrity. And for good reason. A meta-analysis of 665 correlations found that integrity isn’t just a “nice-to-have” trait—it’s one of the most reliable predictors of leadership effectiveness, employee satisfaction, and organizational performance. Teams led by honest, ethical leaders tend to outperform, trust more, and burn out less.

New Report: European Product Recalls Reached Record High In 2024
February 28, 2025, Claims Journal
European product recalls hit a record high of 14,484 events in 2024, surpassing last year’s record 12,503 events, a new report shows. Sedgwick Brand Protection’s 2025 European State of the Nation Recall Index report reviews five product categories and three sub-categories. It says the surge in recalls underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny and evolving safety expectations that manufactures must navigate in today’s complex environment. Looking ahead to 2025, the report predicts recall growth due to increasing regulatory demands across multiple sectors. It advises businesses and those who consult businesses to consider enhanced risk managements strategies and adapting to regulatory shifts to ensure compliance.

Peter Feldman Appoints Brien Lorenze As CPSC Executive Director
February 27, 2025, cpsc.gov
Peter A. Feldman, Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  announced the appointment of Brien Lorenze as the Commission’s Executive Director.  Mr. Lorenze most recently served as Senior Advisor in the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.  Prior to that, he was Chief Data Officer for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which was created by Congress in 2020 to provide oversight of pandemic relief spending. Mr. Lorenze holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University.

ICPHSO 2025: State Regulation In Response To Trump’s Push For Federal Deregulation
July 27, 2025, Morrison Foerster
Speakers and presenters broadly (and unsurprisingly) agreed that the new federal administration will significantly impact the consumer product regulatory environment. Of note, President Trump’s 10-to-1 Deregulation Initiative will affect the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other federal regulation of consumer products. Dramatically expanding the previous “2-for-1” deregulation efforts from President Trump’s first term, the new initiative requires agencies to revoke ten regulations for every new one they implemented. The extent of overall deregulation during President Trump’s first term can be debated, but it indisputably increased state regulatory activity as states rushed to fill the gaps. During a CPSC updates panel at the ICPHSO symposium, CPSC Director of the Office of Import Surveillance, Jim Joholske, highlighted the 10-to-1 Deregulation Initiative as a factor that the Commission will need to navigate.

The Strategic Genius Of Taylor Swift
March & April 2025, Harvard Business Review
At age 35, Taylor Swift has been at the top of the music industry for two decades. Her Eras Tour, which set off a global frenzy, was the highest-grossing tour in history. And while the music business has undergone profound technological and business model disruptions, Swift has managed to thrive throughout all the changes. The secret to Swift’s long-term success, this article argues, can be attributed to four behaviors: Targeting untapped markets; Finding opportunities to create stickiness; Maintaining productive paranoia; and Adapting to radical shifts in platforms. By studying the sophisticated moves she has made, business leaders can draw valuable lessons on innovation, reinvention, and strategic thinking.

Data Analysis: Product Safety Warnings Skyrocket
February 27, 2025, WFSB Eyewitness News 3
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows just how much online shopping has increased shipments into the country. In 2015, 139 million shipments each with a total value less than $800 entered into the United States. In 2024, there were more than 1.36 billion shipments like that. That’s a 900% increase, and because they are considered “low value goods” they are exempt from many of the security and safety screenings required by customs for more expensive items. Consumer Federation America analyzed safety warnings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and found they are going up exponentially each year. From 5 safety warnings in 2021 to 12 warnings in 2022. Then there were 39 warnings in 2023, and then 64 warnings in 2024.

UK: OPSS Warning On Dangerous UPP E-Bike Batteries
February 27, 2025, UK.gov
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is warning consumers to stop using dangerous models of UPP batteries in their e-bikes. These batteries have been linked to multiple serious fires. OPSS previously issued a warning about these UPP batteries in January 2024 when it took action to require online marketplaces to stop selling them. These models should not be used as they are dangerous and can cause a serious fire or explosion that spreads rapidly, and which can lead to serious injury or death. The Government advises to only buy safe e-bikes from reputable sellers, only replace parts with products recommended by the manufacturer and seek professional help when converting or repairing an e-bike.

President Trump To Federal Agencies: “I’ve Got This”
February 26, 2025, Genova Burns LLC (JD Supra)
President Trump’s February 18th Executive Order entitled, “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” represents a sweeping effort to consolidate federal executive branch lawmaking power with the President. The Order’s purpose is to “ensure Presidential supervision and control of the entire executive branch.” This Order would extend control explicitly to Independent Regulatory Agencies established by Congress. The list of agencies including the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Agencies that ignore the directive to involve the White House in rulemaking could risk losing appropriations for certain activities. How this process will play out is yet to be determined. The order will likely face legal challenge.

 CPSC: Stop Using Style Life Eleven Baby Loungers Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Suffocation, Fall And Entrapment Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
February 27, 2025, cpsc.govThe Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Style Life Eleven baby loungers, because they are advertised as sleep products but create an unsafe and potentially deadly sleep environment. CPSC issued Notices of Violation to the sellers of the baby loungers, including MamaPanda and Bespoke Clothing Valley (Royalbelle) d/b/a Zoomie Kids, but at this time these firms have not agreed to recall these baby loungers or offer a remedy to consumers. 

CPSC: Stop Using Enhomee Tall Fabric Dressers Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death From Tip-Over And Entrapment Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
February 27, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using EnHomee tall fabric dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing a risk of serious injury or death from tip-over and entrapment hazards. The dressers violate the performance and labeling requirements of the STURDY Act and CPSC’s implementing regulations, which establish a mandatory safety standard to prevent injury or death caused by clothing or storage units tipping over. The CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Weibao, of China, doing business as EnHomee-Direct, but the firm has not agreed to recall these clothing storage units or offer a remedy to consumers.

Ohio Man Charged With Smuggling Body Armor From China To Sell To Law Enforcement Customers And The Public
February 26, 2025, Department of Justice
An Ohio businessman has been charged for allegedly smuggling body armor from China and making fake labels to pass the armor off as American-made, government-certified products, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Vall Iliev is accused of working with a Chinese broker company to find manufacturers to make cheap knock-offs of Level III and Level IV body armor products and selling them through his company ShotStop Ballistics LLC.  Iliev is charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods, trafficking in counterfeit goods and mail and wire fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ShotStop used a laser printer to create fraudulent certification labels bearing the trademark of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The NIJ tested the ShotStop-sold body armor after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted a truck that contained more than 200 armor plate at the United States-Canada border in Washington state.

PFAS Uncovered: What You Need To Know About These Lingering (Not Forever) Chemicals
February 27, 2025, Thechemicalengineer.com
The family PFAS are often, but inaccurately, referred to as forever chemicals.But contrast the dictionary definitions of “forever” and “lingering”; forever means permanent, lasting for all future time; lingering means lasting for a long time or being slow to end – a far more fitting nickname for PFAS.

Trump Administration Formally Ends Biden’s War On Gas Stoves
February 12, 2025, Washington Free Beacon
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is formally ending a review that it initiated during the Biden administration to assess the potential health risks posed by gas-powered stovetops. In a statement to the Washington Free Beacon, Consumer Product Safety Commission acting chairman Peter Feldman said he considers the matter “concluded” and emphasized that the federal government should not interfere with consumer choice. Feldman’s comments effectively put an end to a years long process that critics feared would lead to a broad ban on gas stoves. “In electing President Trump, the American people spoke loudly that the United States has no business telling American families how to cook their meals,” Feldman told the Free Beacon.

When Ethics Meet Reality: Inside A Frank Discussion On Compliance’s Future (2025 LRN Report)
February 12, 2025, corporatecomplianceinsights
In a crowded room at LRN’s global headquarters in midtown Manhattan, corporate integrity leaders gathered for a masterclass discussion of the firm’s annual report on ethics and compliance program effectiveness. The timing couldn’t have been more relevant: As U.S. regulators signal retreat from traditional enforcement areas and companies grapple with evolving workplace expectations, LRN’s 2025 report suggests organizations must chart their own course through increasingly complex waters. Who doesn’t appreciate the acknowledgment of their efforts and wins, or like to impress others occasionally? It’s equally important to cultivate internal validation: a deeper sense of self-worth that is free from the wavering opinions of others and the momentary dopamine hit of a gold star. In this article, the author shares four strategies to balance your perspective and stay self-assured despite external pressures and challenging work environments.

Study: The growing challenge of e-commerce and product safety: CFA analysis of 2024 CPSC safety warnings
February 12, 2025, Consumer Federation of America
In a new analysis of 2024 safety data, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) highlighted what it calls an alarming rise in unilateral safety warnings issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CFA’s findings underscore the escalating challenge of ensuring product safety in the age of global trade and online shopping, with an urgent call for stronger action to protect U.S. consumers from unsafe products. In 2020, the Commission issued only three unilateral safety warnings. However, in 2024, the number spiked to 64, many linked to products manufactured overseas and sold online. Of the 64 warnings, 42 were from China, and 61 were sold online.

Stop Relying On Others For Validation At Work
January 15, 2025, Harvard Business Review  
Who doesn’t appreciate the acknowledgment of their efforts and wins, or like to impress others occasionally? It’s equally important to cultivate internal validation: a deeper sense of self-worth that is free from the wavering opinions of others and the momentary dopamine hit of a gold star. In this article, the author shares four strategies to balance your perspective and stay self-assured despite external pressures and challenging work environments.

European Commission Publishes Guidance On EU Batteries Regulation Removability Requirements
February 13, 2025, Cooley Productwise
The new European Commission (EC) guidance on the European Union Batteries Regulation 2023/1542 has been published. This guidance is relevant to anyone who places products containing batteries on the EU market. The new guidance sheds light on the challenging Article 11 requirement that portable batteries be ‘readily removable and replaceable by the end user at any time during the lifetime of the product’.

Study Finds: California Disclosure Law Prompting Shift Away From Toxic Compounds
February 12, 2025, The Hill
Manufacturers have been quietly abandoning the use of toxic ingredients in their products, in response to California’s strict chemical disclosure rules, a new study has found. By promoting increased transparency about the presence of harmful substances in consumer goods, the Golden State’s right-to-know law — called Proposition 65 — has helped shift markets toward safer items, according to the study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the Massachusetts-based Silent Spring Institute. 

CPSC: Stop Using Crasts Hair Dryer Brushes Due To Shock And Electrocution Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
February 13, 2025, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns consumers to stop using Crasts 5-in-1 High Power Multi-Functional Curler and Straightener hair dryer brushes immediately. These hair dryers lack an integrated immersion protection device, posing electrocution and shock hazards, and violating federal regulations. The seller, Guangzhou Crasts Hair Equipment Co. Ltd., China, has not responded to recall requests. 

Temu Says: We Take Product Safety Seriously
February 13, 2025, IT Web
Global online retailer Temu has refuted claims that it is selling dangerous and risky products on its site, exported to different parts of the world from China. This, after European consumer-advocacy group BEUC last week released a report following a 15-month investigation by its members into the Chinese multinational marketplace. The report exposes the alleged “shoddy safety” of certain products and holes in the safety of some materials sold through the e-tailer’s site. BEUC members in Denmark, Italy and the UK conducted the tests, focusing on different types of products, ranging from cosmetics to children’s toys.

United Nations Unit: Emerging Trends And Challenges In Consumer Product Safety
February 2025, unctad.org (United Nations Trade and Development.org)
With cross-border e-commerce booming and informal markets expanding, ensuring consumer safety is ever more urgent. As demand for sustainable and compliant products grows, regulatory gaps in developing countries remain a pressing challenge. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is at the forefront of global efforts to protect consumers, shaping policies that ensure safer products for all. This new UNCTAD publication examines the emerging trends and challenges in consumer product safety.

Analysis: The Impact Of Peter A. Feldman: CPSC’s New Acting Chairman
February 5, 2025, Husch Blackwell LLP (JD Supra)
Peter Feldman’s new role as Acting Chair signals a continued focus on enforcement efforts and adapting to evolving market challenges. We anticipate Mr. Feldman will focus on CPSC’s aggressive stance on e-commerce oversight, addressing product hazards that may be overlooked in online marketplaces. Additionally, we expect Mr. Feldman to maintain the agency’s current approach of using civil penalties and unilateral press releases to enforce compliance, signaling a continued commitment to robust consumer protection efforts. These developments will likely shape CPSC’s direction in the years ahead. Mr. Feldman also identified three key challenges for CPSC this year: (1) Modernizing CPSC’s Data Collection and Analysis Capabilities; (2) Addressing E-Commerce; and (3) Stakeholder Engagement.

EU Investigating Shein Over ‘Illegal’ Products
February 6, 2025, Yahoo!Finance
The EU told online fashion giant Shein to hand over information on risks linked to illegal products on its site, paving the way for a second probe into the Chinese-founded firm. The European Commission announced the request after confirming it was investigating the low-cost e-commerce platform for not abiding by the bloc’s consumer protection rules. “The Commission is requesting Shein to provide internal documents and more detailed information on risks linked to the presence of illegal content and goods on its marketplace,” it said. The EU’s regulator also asked for information on other issues, including the “transparency of its recommender systems” and protection of users’ personal data.

Theme of 2025 Directory
Compliance Plans: Reducing Company Risk And Building Credibility With Regulators
February 7, 2025, KRON TV 4 San Francisco
The 2025 ADK Product Safety and Recall Directory® has been made available to product safety professionals worldwide, as announced by its publisher, ADK Information Services, LLC. The theme for the 2025 directory is centered around compliance plans and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This edition highlights insights from 14 experienced product safety professionals, offering guidance on designing and implementing compliance plans for manufacturers, retailers, and importers. Since its inception in 2009, the ADK Product Safety & Recall Directory® has been published annually, with each edition focusing on a topic pertinent to the consumer product safety field.

Ten Signs Of A Toxic Boss — And How To Protect Yourself
February 6, 2025, Harvard Business Review
No one should be working for someone who doesn’t respect them, makes them feel undermined, or makes their work life hell. If you’re stuck working for a toxic boss, what can you do? While you cannot completely change a person or their behavior, there are things you can try within your sphere of control to manage a toxic boss and keep your mental well-being a priority. In this article, the author outlines the signs to watch out for to help you assess whether your boss is toxic, and offers strategies to try if you’re finding yourself in this impossibly difficult situation.

LG Is Sending Stickers To Buyers Of Recalled Stoves That Started 28 House Fires
February 6, 2025, MSN
LG has recalled 500,000 electric range stoves after the product was involved in at least 28 house fires. Customers who bought a recalled product can enter their model and serial numbers on the LG website. In return, they’ll receive a free sticker reminding them of the pre-existing safety features. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of LG Slide-In and Freestanding Electric Ranges after receiving “at least 86 reports of unintentional activation of the front-mounted knobs.”

Gov. Evers Proposes $145M PFAS Plan, Igniting Political Debate In Wisconsin
February 5, 2025, Fox1online.com
Gov. Tony Evers is trying to expand his safe drinking water initiative by including funding and measures to combat PFAS in his upcoming biennial budget. The governor discussed his plans during several visits across the state recently. But the proposal is not sitting well with everyone.

Statement Of Commissioner Richard Trumka On Stack-On Gun Safes
February 6, 2025, cpsc
Commissioner Trumka’s statement says, “183,000 Stack-On biometric gun safes may fail to secure firearms, allowing unauthorized access. Despite CPSC staff’s assessment, Stack-On refused an acceptable recall, leaving consumers responsible for addressing the hazard. This issue spans many models and manufacturers, with today marking the fifth wave of warnings or recalls.

Bipartisan E-Bike Safety Legislation Reintroduced In Congress
February 4, 2025, The Sun
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), along with House Members Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) have reintroduced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. The bipartisan bill would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to publish a final consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices. The bill is being reintroduced in response to increasing incidents of fires associated with lithium-ion batteries.

European Commission Announces Actions For Safe And Sustainable E-Commerce Imports
February 6, 2025, The European Sting
The Commission is taking action to tackle risks stemming from low-value imports sold via non-EU online retailers and marketplaces hosting non-EU traders. These actions are part of the Communication on E-Commerce: ‘A Comprehensive EU Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-commerce’, which the Commission is proposing. The Commission encourages actions, among others, in the areas of customs and trade, such as launching customs controls, consumer protection and the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts.

Veteran Recovering From Surgery After Glass Shower Door Explodes
February 2, 2025, wwnytv.com
A military veteran is recovering after a glass shower door exploded in a rental home. Kevin Caple reported that he had just finished a hot shower when the glass shower door shattered. “I was opening the shower door, and it moved maybe about an inch or two. Right as it was moving, it exploded, and everything came down on me,” Caple stated. The veteran’s foot and hand were cut, prompting him to call for assistance. Caple is seeking answers regarding how and why the glass door shattered. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, from 2012 to 2016, there were an estimated 2,300 emergency department visits in the United States related to shattering glass shower doors. In 2018, a tempered glass safety alert was issued, outlining mandatory safety standards for glass used in showers, bathtub enclosures, doors, storm doors, and sliding doors.