Lawmakers Renew Calls To Explore Tech To Protect Consumers
June 10, 2021, NexGov
The bill, including its AI and Consumer Product Safety provision, would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop a pilot program to explore using technology to pinpoint product hazards or track relevant trends, among other pursuits.
CPSC Report Shows Child Drownings Remain High; Most Fatalities Are Children Under Five
June 8, 2021, CPSC
The annual drowning and submersion report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds families to make water safety a priority, particularly as they return to community pools and resume warm-weather activities near water. Child drownings remain the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four years old.
Employees Are Lonelier Than Ever. How Employers Can Help
June 9, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Loneliness comes with many negative side effects. Increasing face-to-face interaction may be beneficial for some, but it’s not always enough to create strong interpersonal bonds among colleagues. Here are 5 ways to help lonely employees.
CPSC Publishes Report On Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
June 3, 2021, Retail & Consumer Law Observer
A CPSC report on AI and ML in consumer products highlights recent CPSC staff activity, proposes a framework for evaluating the potential safety impact of AI and ML and makes several recommendations that the CPSC can take related to AI and ML
Recall Roundup: May 2021
June 9, 2021, National Law Review
In the world of consumer products, the month of May was all about infant sleep products. The CPSC recently approved a new federal standard for infant sleep products for infants up to five months of age It reflects the fact that inclined sleepers, bassinets, and in-bed sleepers that have been linked to multiple infant deaths.
Health Canada Regulates Harmful UV, Ozone Devices That Could Harm People
June 8, 2021, KTW This Week
Health Minister Patty Hajdu says most companies selling UV wands and lights promising to kill viruses must have products approved and stop claiming they can destroy COVID-19. Hajdu signed an interim order to regulate the devices for the first time.
Amazon Successfully Presses To Leave Consumer Protections Out Of Senate China Bill
June 9, 2021, Washington Post
When the Senate recently passed the Inform Consumers Act to counter China’s growing economic clout, it excluded a measure designed to protect online shoppers from counterfeit and dangerous products after aggressive lobbying led by Amazon.
Prepare Now To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
June 8, 2021, ABC Newsll
A big storm often causes power outages and an increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is odorless and colorless and the CPSC says causes over 400 deaths each year. Some are caused by portable generators used when people lose power.
Manufacturers Group Pushes For Country-Of-Origin Labelling
June 7, 2021, Industry Week
Americans have a reason to be apprehensive about e-commerce giants. These companies are lobbying against legislation to require country-of-origin labeling for any product sold on the Internet to help consumers make more informed online choices.
Consumers Are Facing More Risk Than Ever Due To Fake Products
June 9, 2021, Irish Technical Times
Counterfeits represent 6.8% of EU imports worth EUR 121 billion, according to a joint study by the EUIPO and the OECD. They can pose serious health and safety risks to consumers, notably due to exposure to hazardous chemicals.
E-scooters ‘Not Safe’ Without Audible Signals
June 8, 2021, BBC
The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) said e-scooters posed potential risks to blind and partially sighted people because “they are fast-moving, difficult to detect and are often ridden on the pavement despite this being illegal”.
Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.
