Expert Recall

By Mike Rozembajgier

It has become increasingly complicated in recent years to adhere to industry standards and federal regulations throughout the manufacturing, distribution and or sales process. Lawmakers and regulators alike are taking a keen interest in protecting consumers when it comes to food safety, product safety and recalls. It is essential that your recall management team understands what it means to be in recall compliance. In order to be sure that your company is ready to comply with new and ever-changing recall regulations, it is critical to have a recall plan in place.

But the increase regulatory scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators is not unprovoked. In fact, massive recalls across a number of industries have sparked increased scrutiny and sweeping changes to industry standards and recall regulations. This makes it even more important that your company is in tune these new changes as they happen.

I had the opportunity to speak briefly about recall readiness at the National Association of Manufacturer’s Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Coalition meeting this week. The Coalition is comprised of several trade associations, manufacturers, and other players concerned about new regulations being put in place by the CPSC after passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in 2008.

While ensuring your products are safe before they enter the marketplace is critical to consumer safety, it is only half the battle. When it comes to recalls, it’s not a matter of if, but when. And once you undertake a recall, your recall effectiveness and recall compliance are critical to the four goals of every recall: protecting the consumer, protecting your brand, minimizing the impact, and mitigating the risk.

During the NAM meeting, I spoke specifically about trends across industries when it comes to tighter recall regulations, as well as the increased public concern about safe products. We also discussed the importance of communication and documentation throughout the recall lifecycle. Communication and documentation are critical to your success during a recall. Effective recall communication improves consumer response rates. Proper recall documentation proves to regulators that you have managed an effective recall.

Regulators are also taking it up a notch and building in the option of pursuing criminal penalties against manufacturers, retailers or corporate executives for failed or ineffective recalls. Not only is liability and recall risk increasing for manufacturers, retailers and the companies with which you do business, liability is also migrating all the way to your corporate executives, board of directors and the people who make critical business decisions.

It is essential for you to do whatever is necessary to update your recall plan, test it, and review your recall procedures to prepare yourself for a successful recall.

Remember: when it comes to recalls, it’s not a matter of if, it is only a matter of when.

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.