Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - Posts

• Nine Firms Agree To Pay More Than $350,000 in Civil Penalties For Failing To Timely Report Drawstrings In Children’s Outerwear

  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that nine firms have agreed to pay a total of $355,000 in civil penalties. The penalties settle allegations that the firms knowingly failed to report to the CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that their children’s hooded sweatshirts, jackets, or sweaters were sold with drawstrings at the hood and neck. These products, which the firms eventually recalled, pose a strangulation hazard that can cause death to children. The settlements have been provisionally accepted. The firms paying the penalties are: AJ Blue LLC, of New York City, N.Y.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   A&R Knitwear Inc., of New York City, N.Y.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Cobmex Inc., of Lakewood, Calif.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Liberty Apparel Co. Inc., of New York City, N.Y.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Rebelette International Trading Corp., of South El Monte, Calif.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Scope Imports Inc., of Houston, Texas: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Sears Holdings Management Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Siegfried & Parzival Inc., of City of Industry, Calif.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf)   Vacation Clothing Exchange Inc., d/b/a Basix USA, of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.: Recall | Settlement Agreement (pdf) In February 1996, CPSC issued drawstring guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts. In May 2006, CPSC’s Office of Compliance announced (pdf) that children’s upper outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as defective and a substantial risk of injury to young children. Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard. In agreeing to settle the matters, the firms deny CPSC's allegations that they knowingly violated the law. Posted Aug 06 2008, 10:33 AM by All ePregnancy with no comments Filed under: Choking Hazard, Strangulation Hazard, Drawstrings

• Baby Appleseed Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Davenport Cribs Units: About 500 Importer: Baby Appleseed, of City of Industry, Calif. Hazard: The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The cribs have a two mattress support system. The secondary mattress support, used for the lowest position, does not meet the full 26 inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recall includes Davenport crib models that begin with the model numbers 273-xxxx-xxxx and have manufacture dates on or before August 2007 printed on a label located on the right side of the lower inner panel of the crib. The recalled cribs have two mattress support systems-a metal one and a wooden one. Newer Davenport cribs with model numbers beginning with 244-xxxx-xxxx that have one mattress support are not included in the recall. Sold at: Specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from December 2006 through September 2007 for between $600 and $800. Manufactured in: Vietnam Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs in the third lowest position, which uses the wooden mattress support, and contact Baby Appleseed to receive a repair kit. Consumers who are currently using the crib with the metal mattress support in the top or middle positions can continue to use the crib in those positions while awaiting a repair kit. (NOTE: Repair Kits will be available from the firm in mid-August 2008) Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Baby Appleseed at (877) 348-2199 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.babyappleseed.com Posted Aug 06 2008, 10:26 AM by All ePregnancy with no comments Filed under: Crib, Recall, baby gear, Falling Hazard, Baby, Furniture, Baby Appleseed

• Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Cribs Units: About 1,300 Manufacturer: Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards, of Toronto, Canada Hazard: The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards. The distance between the mattress support bracket in the lowest position and the top of the side rail in the highest position is less than the required 26 inches, posing a fall hazard to children who climb over the railing. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recall includes the following wooden full-size cribs: “Enchantment” (model #210), “Hush a Bye” (model #215), “Once upon a time” (model #320) and “Rock a bye” (model #1900-350). Only date codes from 0306 through 0308 are included in this recall. “Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards”, the model number and date code are printed on a label located on the bottom inside of the right side. Sold at: Juvenile product stores from March 2006 through March 2008 for between $500 and $650. Manufactured in: Canada Remedy: Consumers should stop using the cribs immediately and contact Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards to receive instructions on how to re-install the support brackets to eliminate the hazard. Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards toll-free at (888) 661-8201 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.mhcfurniture.com Enchantment - Model 210 Hush a Bye - Model 215 Once upon a time - Model 320 Rock a Bye - Model 1900-350 Posted Aug 06 2008, 10:16 AM by All ePregnancy with no comments Filed under: Crib, Recall, baby gear, Falling Hazard, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards, Baby, Furniture

• Wooden Toys Recalled by Earthentree Due To Choking and Strangulation Hazards

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Wooden Toys Units: About 375 Manufacturer: Earthentree of Kirkland, Wash. Hazard: The recalled toys contain small parts or can break into small parts, posing a choking hazard. The recalled rattles violate the federal rattle standard. Some of the toys also have a string longer than 12 inches, which can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: This recall involves a variety of wooden toys including egg shakers (maracas), pull toys, rattles, and trains. The toys are painted glossy red, orange, green, brown, yellow or natural wood. Sold at: Earthentree’s Web site, Fairs, Trade Shows and retail stores nationwide from December 2007 through May 2008 for about $7 to $34. Manufactured in: India Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Earthentree for exchange or refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Earthentree at (800) 963-1593 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.earthentree.com/recall.asp Small Maracas (Egg Shaker) Large Maracas (Egg Shaker) Pom Pom Rail Train Duby and Duba Pull Toy Duby Duck Pull Toy Katerpillar Pull Toy Kiddo Rattleman Six Ring Rattle Turtle Family Pull Toy Cat Rattle Bear Rattle Tuttu Turtle Pull Toy Choo Choo Train Posted Aug 06 2008, 10:10 AM by All ePregnancy with no comments Filed under: Recall, Toy Recall, Choking Hazard, Children's Toys, Strangulation Hazard, Wooden Toy

• Children’s Stuffed Toys Recalled By Daiso Due to Choking Hazard

  Name of Product: Stuffed Toy Dogs Units: About 40 Importer: Daiso LLC, of Burlingame, Calif. Hazard: The stuffed toys contain small parts, posing a choking hazard to young children. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recalled toys are crème colored stuffed dogs with black eyes and nose. Some of the toys have brown spots on the back. A tag attached to the toy is written in Japanese language with UPC codes: 4947678264166 and 4947678246063. Sold at: Daiso retail stores in California and Washington State from October 2007 through December 2007 for about $3. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the toys and return them to any Daiso retail store for a full refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Daiso toll-free at (866) 768-4620 between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.daisollc.com Posted Aug 06 2008, 10:08 AM by All ePregnancy with no comments Filed under: Recall, Toy Recall, Choking Hazard, Children's Toys