November 2019 Consumer Product Recalls Analysis
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls Analysis
In November 2019, there were 17 recall notices issued for consumer products by the CPSC, which was in line with the 18 recall notices issued in October 2019. About a quarter of the recalls (four notices) were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with Health Canada.
Electronics, essential oils and sports & recreation each accounted for 12% of the recalls. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for the softlines and hardlines industries below.
| November 2019 – CPSC | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Arts & Crafts – Knitting Needles | The shaft of the knitting needle can split or burst, posing a laceration hazard |
| Children’s Apparel – Sweatshirt | A drawstring in the sweatshirt hood poses a strangulation hazard to children, as it’s been determined that drawstrings can become entangled or caught on playground slides, hand rails, school bus doors or other moving objects, posing a significant strangulation hazard to children |
| Candle Accessories – Candle Holder | The candleholders are flammable and can catch on fire, posing a fire hazard when the candle burns down |
| Seasonal – Halloween Decoration | The string light wiring inside of the Jack-O-Lanterns can overheat, spark or ignite, posing a fire hazard |
| Sports & Recreation – Ski Boots | The ski boot shell can crack, posing a fall hazard and risk of injury to the consumer |
| Sports & Recreation – Exercise Devices | The handle grips on each end can break during use and cause parts to be forcefully ejected from the shaft, posing a risk of injury from impact to the user or bystander |
| Tools – Wooden Nail Hammer | The molded grip on the hammer can come loose, posing an injury hazard to consumers |
Read more: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
Health Canada Recalls Analysis
In November 2019, there were 14 recall notices issued for consumer products by Health Canada, which was less than half the number of recall notices issued for consumer products in October 2019 (26 recall notices).
There were three recalls total for children’s apparel and tools & electrical products and two recalls total for toys and paints & chemicals. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for softlines and hardlines industries below.
| November 2019 – Health Canada | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Arts & Crafts – Knitting Needles | The shaft of the knitting needle can split or burst, posing a laceration hazard |
| Children’s Apparel – Jacket and Sweatshirts | Drawstrings at the waist on children's upper outerwear can become caught on vehicles causing the child to be dragged |
| Footwear – Ski Boots | The shells of the ski boots may crack during use, posing an injury or fall hazard to the user |
| Toys – Slime | This toy does not meet the Canadian toy safety requirements for boric acid content |
| Toys – Books | The recalled books may be contaminated with mold |
Read more: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/index-eng.php?cat=4
EU RAPEX Recall Analysis
In November 2019, there were 119 relevant product recall alerts issued through the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), a 21% increase over the 94 recalls in the previous month. Toys accounted for 71% of the recalls with 83, followed by clothing & fashion items with 25 recalls, protective equipment with 5 recalls, and 2 recalls each for childcare articles, decorative items and sports & hobby equipment. We’ve highlighted the recalled product categories and hazards below.
| November 2019 – EU RAPEX | |
| Product Categories | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Childcare Articles | There were 2 recalls for potential suffocation injuries from infant travel cots and high chairs, finding that the products do not comply with the relevant European standard EN 716; as well as a recall on a children’s necklace that poses a choking hazard |
| Clothing and Fashion Accessories | The were 16 recalls as a result of drawstrings and embellishments that do not meet the requirements of EN 14682; chemical recalls due to non-compliance with the REACH requirement for phthalates on children’s items, chromium VI and a wallet with a high level of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs); and one recall for a necklace that contains 17% cadmium |
| Decorative Items & Gadgets | One recall was a candle holder that poses a risk of burns; the other recall was for lead and SCCP content contained in a fitness band |
| Sports and Hobby Equipment | The recalls were for bicycles where the joint on the front forks and for cadmium content in the battery of a bicycle's light |
| Protective Equipment | There were recalls on leather gloves that excessive chromium VI content; and also a recall on a component that may break in use and result in injury |
| Toys | There were a large number of recalls this month (41) due to small components that present choking hazards; one recall due to high sound pressure levels that may cause damage to hearing and one from potential sight damage; and chemical failures due to phthalate content in toy items (26 recalls), boron content in ‘slime’ type toys, and lead content in the solder compartment of battery-operated toys |
