The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has introduced new features to its SaferProducts.gov web site launched in March 2011 that will make it easier and more efficient for businesses to report defective products to the Commission.
The most important new feature is a comprehensive, online form that allows manufacturers and importers to quickly submit reports to the CPSC of potentially hazardous or defective products. Federal law requires that manufacturers, distributors and retailers immediately (i.e., within 24 hours) report to the CPSC information that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, or pose a risk of injury or death to consumers.
A separate improvement to the business portal of SafeProducts.gov expands the Commission’s ability to communicate electronically with all businesses registered on the website. Now, the Commission can forward product notices and consumer incident reports electronically to the affected companies, rather than having to rely on postal mail.
The SaferProducts.gov website allows consumers to file a report directly with the CPSC about an incident with an unsafe or potentially hazardous consumer product. The manufacturer then has 10 days to respond to the CPSC and provide any comments or claims regarding the report. At that point, the consumer’s report and the manufacturer’s response are posted to the SaferProducts.gov website.
The CPSC reports that the website contains more than 4100 consumer product-related reports as of the end of October 2011.
Visit the business portal for the CPSC’s website.
VIew the online reporting form at the CPSC’s website.
