In most parts of the world, regulatory compliance can be complex when it comes to baby carriers. We’re seeing an increase in children’s product recalls in the US and in oversight and enforcement of all consumer products, including durable nursery products and baby carriers.
In 2023, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported a 20% overall increase in consumer product recalls, according to Commissioner Feldman. This includes children’s product recalls in the US. There was also an increase in civil penalties, as well as an increase in oversight of product imports.
In 2022, the agency declared they would create a “new” CPSC with an even greater focus on protecting consumers from product hazards. Their budget increased by 50%, from $135m in 2021 to $195.51 million in 2022. This allowed them to increase their efforts at ensuring safety and regulatory compliance in consumer products. It also allowed for the reinstatement of the Children’s Product Defect Team, which was disbanded in 2018.
Children’s product recalls increased for both product defects and regulatory compliance issues (such as violations of the CPSIA, which governs product standards and product registration cards, among other things). Foley Law shared insight about the “new CPSC” in their article, “The CPSC Promises Higher Civil Penalties and More Aggressive Enforcement.”
Tracking general and children’s product recalls in the US
There are several companies that track product recalls, including Sedgewick and Intertek. Intertek publishes their reports quarterly and include breakdowns by both product category and hazard types.
If you would like to see a detailed analysis of general and children’s product recalls in the US, those two websites are a great place to start.
In a press release, Sedgwick predicts,
The U.S. consumer product industry will see strict regulatory enforcement continue from both the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The CPSC will likely continue its more public efforts to pursue remedies from manufacturers and its practice of issuing civil penalties. Manufacturers will want to update their recall and communications plans to align with CPSC’s new, more aggressive enforcement strategy.
May 2023 press release from Sedgwick: “U.S. product recalls hit four-year high in first quarter of 2023”
Things to consider about baby carriers and children’s product recalls
- Baby carriers of all kinds are considered “durable nursery products” and need to comply with the strict regulations of the CPSIA and other US laws.
- When CPSC inspects baby carriers, they not only consider the Children’s Product Certificate, but also product instructions, warning labels, and product registration cards, among other things.
- Although baby carriers are not considered “sleep products,” it is important to be aware of developments in the sector of sleep products, which is seeing a huge increase in recalls, regulatory enforcement, and regulatory change.
- The BCIA offers compliance reviews for members, referrals to product compliance specialists, an affordable product registration program, warning labels that meet the ASTM standards, and other detailed compliance information.
