| Manufacturers of consumer products selling into the | | | | proactive or cautious manufacturers or distributors of |
| U.S. market are aware of the potentially dangerous | | | | a given product suspect a defect or flaw and decide |
| and costly consequences when their products contain | | | | to error on the side of caution by instituting their |
| a major design flaw or manufacturing defect. The | | | | own recall campaign. Either way, the CPSC ultimately |
| U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) | | | | gets involved with all consumer product recalls - |
| Web site indicates that there is indeed reason for | | | | provided that the product in question is one of the |
| caution on the part of all manufacturers: deaths, | | | | 15,000 product types that falls under the CPSC's |
| injuries, and property damage from consumer | | | | domain. |
| product-related incidents cost the U.S. more than | | | | FAQ #4: How should my company determine |
| $700 billion each year. | | | | whether we should issue a recall? |
| The CPSC's "November 2007 Recalls and Product | | | | A: The determination as to whether your firm should |
| Safety News" report indicates a wide range of | | | | issue a product recall should depend upon a number |
| recent recalls that were enacted in order to protect | | | | of factors, both internal and external to your |
| consumers from potential dangers ranging from | | | | company. Often, multiple dimensions are to be taken |
| lead-based paint in toys to collapsing furniture. | | | | into account when considering whether to issue a |
| Here is an FAQ for those manufacturers who are | | | | campaign. Legal, financial, ethical, technical and political |
| currently considering a product recall or who operate | | | | factors are all involved. If you are facing a potential |
| in industries that face a high degree of risk of | | | | product recall situation and would like to find out |
| product recall-related incidents. | | | | more, visit the Business section of the CPSC Web |
| FAQ #1: Which types of consumer products are | | | | site for information about regulations and industry |
| experiencing highest incidence of recalls? | | | | guidance. |
| A: According to an analysis of the "November 2007 | | | | FAQ #5: What are the options available to me to get |
| Recalls and Product Safety News" report available on | | | | the message out to consumers and distributors in the |
| the CPSC Web site, 36% of recalls in that month | | | | event of a recall? |
| involved baby goods or toys. Following close behind | | | | A: The very nature of most product recall situations |
| were products in the following categories: jewelry | | | | is one of urgency. Companies have a number of |
| costume jewelry (13%), electronics/electrical | | | | options available to them in getting the word out to |
| products (13%), furniture (9%), and machines | | | | affected parties, including direct mail, press releases, |
| vehicles (6%). Other product categories represented | | | | e-mail and telephone-based campaigns. The |
| among the multiple recall campaigns mediated by the | | | | fastest-to-implement media for conducting recalls |
| CPSC in November include clothing, decorations, | | | | messaging campaigns are telephone and e-mail-based |
| outdoor/sporting goods, school supplies, paper goods, | | | | campaigns. However, telephone-based campaigns are |
| storage racks and tools. | | | | likely the most realistic to implement, given that the |
| FAQ #2: What are the most prevalent potential | | | | typical company's customer database often lacks |
| dangers related to recent recalls? | | | | e-mail addresses for many consumers, while |
| A: The recalls in the aforementioned November | | | | telephone number data is readily available for most or |
| report were implemented in order to avoid a number | | | | all consumers. |
| of potential public and consumer health hazards as | | | | Facing a product recall situation is something that |
| indicated by the CPSC. By far the most prevalent | | | | every manufacturer or distributor would like to avoid. |
| potential hazard among recent recalls was that of the | | | | However, given that most consumer product |
| presence of lead in the recalled products (47%). | | | | categories are potentially at risk for a recall - and |
| Other potential hazards include the risk of fire (19%), | | | | given the public health dangers at stake - the decision |
| collapse/bodily injury (11%), choking (6%), lacerations | | | | to implement a campaign is often the least-costly and |
| cuts (6%), strangulation/suffocation (6%), and | | | | most ethical choice. If your company is facing a recall |
| electric shock (4%). | | | | situation, it is important to make quick, accurate |
| FAQ #3: What events typically lead up to a product | | | | judgments about whom to contact and how to |
| recall? | | | | determine the content of the recall message that |
| A: A product recall can come about in two primary | | | | consumers will hear. From that point forward, choose |
| ways. The first is the result of multiple | | | | a medium for your messaging campaign based upon |
| consumer-originated complaints to the CPSC or other | | | | the following factors: time-to-launch, chances of |
| government organizations about the same product. | | | | reaching the highest percentage of affected |
| (Such complaints can be directed by consumers | | | | consumers, operational flexibility, and cost. |
| directly to the CPSC Web site). The second is when | | | | Source: U.S. |