Details of CPSC-Announced Recalls of 10M Fisher-Price Children's Products, Toys
On September 30, 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Fisher-Price of New York, announced voluntary recalls of more than 10 million units of Fisher-Price children’s products and toys.
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(See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/30/10 news, 10093026, for initial BP summary announcing the recalls.)
Products Are Being Recalled for Injury, Choking, and Laceration Hazards
The following products are being recalled:
Tricycles. Numerous models of Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles are being recalled due to serious risk to children who may strike, sit, or fall on a protruding plastic ignition key. These tricycles were manufactured in Mexico. The recall affects about 7 million units in the U.S. and 150,000 units in Canada.
Rampway toy cars. Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampways are being recalled as certain of its car wheels come off, posing a choking hazard. The recall affects about 100,000 units in the U.S. and 20,000 units in Canada. The rampways are manufactured in Mexico.
High chairs. Fisher-Price Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs are being recalled due to laceration hazards. Several models and about 950,000 units in the U.S. and 125,000 in Canada are affected. The high chairs are manufactured in China and Mexico.
Activity centers. Several Fisher-Price activity centers with inflatable balls are being recalled due to choking hazards. The recall affects several models and about 2.8 million units in the U.S. and 125,000 in Canada. They are manufactured in China and Mexico.
Import, Sale, Distribution of Recalled Products is Prohibited
Note that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) made it explicitly unlawful to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the U.S. any consumer product that is subject to voluntary corrective action (recall) or is not in conformity with a CPSC-enforced product safety rule. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/17/08 news, 08091705, for BP summary.)
CPSC Says Fisher-Price “Doing the Right Thing” but Safety Needs to be Built In
CPSC states that “Fisher-Price did the right thing in agreeing to provide consumers with free remedies for these products. But all companies must do better. They must give more attention to building safety into their products. They must work to ensure that they are adhering to safety standards. And if any company finds itself with a defective product or one that is causing injuries, it must report the problem to CPSC immediately.”
(Most often, CPSC simply lists products subject to recalls on its Website. However, CPSC sometimes provides more significant coverage of specific recalls, such as it did in this case. CPSC sources have previously explained the level of emphasis depends on: (i) the level of risk; (ii) the number of units affected; and (iii) the product type, with children’s products generally receiving more emphasis.)