CFA - Consumer Federation of America

01/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2025 12:00

CPSC Issues Decision and Order on Fulfilled by Amazon Products

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a Decision and Order on January 17, 2025, regarding the sale of over 400,000 hazardous household products from Amazon. Specifically, the products included children's sleepwear that fail to meet flammability requirements, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors that fail to alarm, and hair dryers that lack electrocution protection sold through Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon program. This decision marks another step in an ongoing, multi-year legal action between the CPSC and Amazon. In July 2024, the CPSC issues a Decision and Order against Amazon, determining that Amazon was a distributor of the 400,000 hazardous products.

The case underscores the urgent need to enhance consumer safety and the need to hold online retailers accountable for unsafe products sold through their platforms. "Online marketplaces need more robust systems to vet products before the products make their way into American homes," said Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety at Consumer Federation of America. "E-commerce giants must ensure consumers are safeguarded adequately in the rapidly expanding online marketplace. This case also demonstrates the critical need for improved monitoring of hazardous consumer products and a more effective recall process to remove dangerous products from the marketplace swiftly."

Key Components of the CPSC's Decision:

  • That Amazon shall provide public notice by posting the recall releases to the "Recalls and Product Safety Alerts" webpage on Amazon.com on the date that the CPSC publishes the recall releases on its website;
  • That Amazon shall provide direct notice by issuing one round of email notice using the "Dear Valued Customer" email notices on the date that the CPSC publishes the recall releases on its website and providing the information regarding the recalls on each purchaser's "Your Orders" page in a manner that prominently shows its importance;
  • That Amazon shall issue one round of notice to the Fulfilled by Amazon participants that sold the affected products;
  • That Amazon shall maintain the recall releases on the "Recalls and Product Safety Alerts" webpage on Amazon.com for a minimum of five years;
  • That Amazon shall issue a full refund in the amount of the purchase price to any consumer who submits proof of destruction or disposal of an affected product; and
  • That Amazon shall submit monthly progress reports for five years.

About the CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency tasked with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with consumer products. The CPSC works to develop and enforce safety standards, educate the public, and promote the safer design and use of products.

For more information on CPSC's actions and safety initiatives, visit www.cpsc.gov.