Handling Your Product Recall
03-20-2010
By Willie Bryant
When it comes to managing a recall, there is no fool-proof solution that guarantees success in every situation. That said, there are best practices that should be followed when handling any recall situation.
In a webinar for the Society Of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP) we recently shared the important information you need to know from government agencies when handling a product recall, including how to make sure you protect consumers and your brand, while complying with the rules enforced by regulators. Without a keen knowledge of the recall landscape outlined in this webinar, you risk putting your company in the crosshairs of regulatory scrutiny and public criticism.
While we discussed the specifics of a recall, including recall classifications, standards and procedures, we also offered some additional insight into what makes a recall effective. And we looked at what the future may hold for recalls supervised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The FDA and CPSC are also examining and implementing new ways to collect and analyze consumer complaints, including electronic filing options and online databases of product safety issues, consumer concerns, and recalled products. As these agencies move toward an electronic means of data collection and analysis, manufacturers can expect the agencies to identify problems and demand recalls more frequently and more quickly than ever before.
Both the FDA and the CPSC continue to consider new rules and stricter standards when it comes to public health and product safety. As manufacturers and retailers, it is critical for you to understand not only the newest regulations, but also the pending rules that could suddenly force you to change the way you manage a recall.
Regardless of the agency that governs your company, a recall plan is imperative. Recall plans not only prepare your management for a recall, but also ensure your execution minimizes public risk, removes all affected products from commerce, helps protect your brand from negative publicity, and mitigates legal liability.
Stericycle ExpertRECALL™ is the industry leader in recall logistics and regulatory compliance for consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls. ExpertRECALL’s professionals are experts in recall management who can help you streamline the entire product recall process.
[...] risk to your brand, it is imperative that the recall be done quickly, efficiently and effectively. Consumers and government regulators expect you to protect public safety. A recall done inefficiently can result in consumers being annoyed and frustrated and, in the worst [...]