December 2019 Consumer Product Recalls Analysis

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls Analysis

In December 2019, there were 13 recall notices issued for consumer products by the CPSC, about a third less than that in November (17 notices). About a third of the recalls (five notices) were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with Health Canada.

Sports & Fitness accounted for 31% of the recalls and Kitchen accessories accounted for 15% of the recalls. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for the softlines and hardlines industries below.

December 2019 – CPSC
Product	Reason/Hazard(s)
Children’s Apparel – Denim Pants	Small stones can be present in the pockets or waistband of the pants from the stone washing manufacturing process, posing aspiration or choking hazards to young children
Durable Nursery Products – Bassinet	The bassinet’s support legs can break, posing a fall hazard to babies
Furniture – Chest	The chests are unstable and can tip over if not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children. The chests do not comply with the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard (ASTM F2057-17)
Home Décor – Candles	When the candle is lit, the glass jar can break, posing fire and laceration hazards
Playground Equipment – Playground Climbers	A welded rung opening on the sides of the climber poses an entrapment hazard to children.
Toys – Light Up Magic Wand	The battery cover can detach and expose the button-cell batteries, posing choking and ingestion hazards to young children

Read more: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls

Health Canada Recalls Analysis

In December 2019, there were 25 recall notices issued for consumer products by Health Canada, which almost double of the number of recall notices issued for consumer products in November 2019 (14 recall notices).

There were eight recalls for children’s apparel and four recalls for tools & electrical products. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for softlines and hardlines industries below.

December 2019 – Health Canada
Product	Reason/Hazard(s)
Children’s Apparel – Hoodies and Sweatshirts (3 notices)	Drawstrings on children’s upper outwear pose a strangulation and dragging hazard
Children’s Apparel – Jackets (4 notices)	Drawstrings on children’s upper outwear pose a strangulation and dragging hazard. Waist drawstrings can pose a dragging or entanglement hazard
Children’s Apparel – Hooded Sweaters	Drawstrings at the hood and neck area pose a strangulation hazard
Durable Nursery Products – Bassinet	The wooden legs of the bassinet may split or break when moving the bassinet across the floor and may present a fall hazard
Furniture – Chest	The chests are unstable if the floor glides on the bottom of the legs are not centered and the units are not anchored to the wall
Toys – Light Up Magic Wand	The battery cover can detach and expose the button-cell batteries posing a choking and ingestion hazard to young children

EU RAPEX Recall Analysis

In December 2019, there were 88 relevant product recall alerts issued through the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), a 26% decrease compared to 119 recalls in the previous month. Toys (65%) and clothing & fashion items (30%) accounted for 95% of the recalls, followed by childcare articles (2%), hobby and sports equipment (2%) and decorative items (1%). We’ve highlighted the recalled product categories and hazards below.

December 2019 – EU RAPEX
Product Categories	Reason/Hazard(s)
Childcare Articles	There were 2 recalls in December, one recall for a soother holder that presents choking hazard and the other for a nightlight that may overheat and cause fire
Clothing and Fashion Accessories	12 recalls were issued as a result of drawstrings and embellishments that do not meet the requirements of EN 14682 There was a chemical-related recall due to non-compliance with the REACH chromium VI requirement for children’s garments Other chemical recalls were issued for jewellery items that failed compliance with REACH requirements on cadmium (9 items) and nickel (1 items) There was a recall for a necklace that contains 91.3% cadmium
Decorative Items & Gadgets	The recall was for a candle holder that poses a risk of burns
Sports and Hobby Equipment	There was a recall on a child’s floating safety ring seat that may deflate during use; the other recall was for a battery-operated hoverboard that may cause an electic shock
Toys	There were 28 recalls this month due to small components that present choking hazards; four were due to accessible batteries that could be ingested by a child causing additional toxicological hazard. There was one recall due potential injury on an Inflatable climbing and obstacle course, which has a handle that may become detached. Most chemical failures were due to phthalate content in toy items (21 recalls); one was for boron content in ‘slime’ type toys; another was due to nickel release and one due to chromium VI content in a children’s make-up set; as well as one due to n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in a balloon.