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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2004
Release #
05-016 |
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media
Contact: Eric Criss (301) 504-7908
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CPSC Corrects the Record on Consumer Reports Story WASHINGTON, D.C. –
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission made corrections today to a Consumer
Reports story entitled: “Hazard in aisle 5.” CPSC’s Executive Director notified
Consumer Reports of concerns regarding their story in a letter to the magazine’s
President, which accompanies this press release and is posted on CPSC’s Web site
at www.cpsc.gov. Consumer Reports based its claim that the market is unsafe on
false premises.
Consumer Reports falsely asserted that it found 48
consumer products that violated CPSC safety standards. Based on an analysis of
information from Consumers Union, CPSC technical experts have concluded that at
least 34 of the products listed by Consumer Reports do not violate any CPSC
standard. Two additional products had already been recalled by the agency before
the Consumer Reports article was published. CSPC continues its efforts to locate
and evaluate the remaining products identified by Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports falsely asserted that the number of CPSC recalls is
declining. In fact, CPSC recalls are up from 279 in 2003 to 356 in 2004 – higher
than the yearly average for recalls over the last decade. In 2004 CPSC recalled
more consumer products than in any prior year in its 30 year history.
CPSC is also using its enforcement powers to make sure firms give
consumer safety top priority. In Fiscal Year 2004, CPSC imposed $4.2 million in
civil penalties. This is the third highest annual civil penalty amount in the
agency’s 30 year history. CPSC worked cooperatively with the Department of
Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to send
several individuals to prison for violating federal safety standards.
While CPSC appreciates the efforts of Consumer Reports to identify
potentially hazardous products, we encourage its publisher and editors to avoid
needlessly alarming consumers and to avoid delay in telling CPSC about any
hazardous products they discover.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of
serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under
the agency’s jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related
injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.
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