CPSC Chairman Issues Final Warning
07-28-2009
By Mike Rozembajgier
July 28, 2009
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum announced that her agency plans to crack down hard on manufacturers and retailers beginning August 14, when the maximum civil penalty the CPSC can impose for violations increases significantly, from $1.8 million to $15 million.
This puts a new and serious burden on consumer product manufacturers to constantly monitor product quality, remain compliant with new regulations and mitigate against risk by being well prepared should a recall be required.
With the CPSC now more closely overseeing the effectiveness of product recalls, careful planning and effective execution take on greater significance. It is critical that companies have the right logistics plans in place – on paper and in practice – in order to avoid penalties. If a company does a poor job of executing or communicating a recall, not only are they subject to multi-million-dollar fines, they may face civil and criminal prosecution.
Companies can avoid trouble by maintaining accurate and complete documentation, providing consumers with the appropriate information, properly handling faulty products and accurately tracking how many recalled products may still be in use. This is essential for the regulators and to guarantee consumer safety and loyalty.
Regulators, plaintiff’s attorneys, and consumer groups will all be looking to manufacturers and retailers more than ever before to safeguard consumer safety and the public interest.
[...] increased civil penalties and new criminal penalties contained within the CPSIA are significant and warrant attention by manufacturers, wholesalers, and [...]
Dear Chairman Tenenbuam: I am a retired corporate CEO and owner of two pet dog. I have had the puppies since they were 8 weeks old. I lost one a lhasa Aposa three weeks ago because of liver failure, and my Bechon has been diagnosed with the same problem. I traced the problem to Nutro Companies food product (Natural Choice). The Lhasa was only 7 years old and was the love of my wife and my life, as is the Bechon. The FDA should treat aminal products as it were products for human consumption. To many of us, our pets are a close as our children. They bring significant enjoyment and pleasure into our lives. I know that there have been many complaints filed against Nutro, but it seems that the FDA has turned a blind eye to the evidence and grief that this company has contributed to the pet owners. Many of us that have retired spend the majority of our time with our pets, and the lost is horrendous, for it is a lost of a member of the family. The FDA should take immediate action into the investigation of Nutro and all their products. Naturally, I will be pursuing other means to effect a financial burden on aforemention organization. But, the FDA has a moral obligation to oversee the products for all members of our society be it human or other aminal forms.
Thanks you for your time an consideration and any assistance your organization can afford to this problem.
Sincerely,
Gerard D. Henderson