The U.S. House passed late Tuesday Amendment 1094 to H.R. 5016, an amendment that stops the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) from making changes that many trade groups argue would greatly reduce legal protections afforded manufacturers who participate in voluntary product recalls.



H.R. 5106 is an appropriations bill that contains funding for the CPSC. H.R. 1094 amends the bills to prevent the CPSC from moving forward with proposals many manufacturers say would eliminate the benefits of participating in voluntary recalls. For instance, the CPSC has proposed it be allowed to impose corrective action plans on companies that have engaged in multiple previous voluntary recalls and/or violations over a relatively short period of time; make such plans legally binding; and allow CPSC to negotiate what disclaimers a company inserts into a voluntary recall notice.

 

 

Critics say the changes would dramatically lower participation in the agency’s voluntary recall program, which shields manufacturers from liability in the interest of quickly recalling products that may pose a danger to consumers.

 

 

The Outdoor Industry Association called on its members to support H.R. 1094 Tuesday and said it will closely monitor events in the Senate to make sure the Blackburn amendment is not watered down or removed.

 

 

OIA will offer a seminar entitled “Safety First: How Government Regulations Pose Risk to Your Customers and Your Business” at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Aug. 6 to explore the topic.

 

 

“The outdoor industry creates some of the most innovative products in the marketplace, but several changes proposed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will change how you have to recall products, how you track those recalls through social media, and potentially exposes business confidential information,” reads the promo for the seminar. “These changes could have a chilling effect on the very innovation that is the lifeblood of the outdoor industry. Outdoor Industry Association will host former CPSC Commissioner Anne Northup and Richelle Luther, Deputy General Counsel for Columbia Sportswear for a discussion about how these changes may stifle manufacturers and retailers and what you can do about it.”