CPSC Announces 4 Voluntary Recalls of Children's Apparel Due to Drawstrings
On February 18, 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced four separate voluntary recalls of children's hooded sweatshirts and jackets with drawstrings, due to strangulation hazards.
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Recalls Involve 20,000 Units from Four Companies
The recalls involve the following companies and units:
- 900 children's hooded sweatshirts distributed by Baycreek, Inc. of NY;
- 400 girl's hooded jackets imported by Franshaw Inc. of NY;
- 900 girls hooded sweatshirts imported by Bobens Trading Co. Inc. of NY; and
- 800 girls's hooded sweatshirts distributed by Weeplay Kids LLC of NY.
(See the notices for specific product descriptions, style numbers, and sizes affected by the recalls.)
Jackets and Sweatshirts Have Drawstrings Posing Strangulation Hazards
All of the hooded sweatshirts and jackets have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.
Voluntary Standard on Drawstrings in Place Since 1997
In February 1996 CPSC, issued guidelines (see link below) which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997 to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.
(CPSC has previously expressed surprise that some manufacturers (including importers) still do not understand that CPSC considers children's clothing with an upper hood with a drawstring a considerable strangulation risk to children and that the agency regularly seeks corrective action under the voluntary standard.
In addition, CPSC has pointed out that it is working on a "15j" rulemaking1 for drawstrings that will allow it to stop and destroy products with drawstring hazards at ports of entry (or for domestic products, order a manufacturer to cease distribution) without having to go through the current "trial-like" process. See ITT's Online Archives or 10/08/09 news, 09100810, for BP summary.)
1The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 provides CPSC with a new "15j" authority that in effect, allows CPSC to make parts of voluntary standards mandatory by specifying, by rule, for any consumer product or class of consumer products, characteristics whose existence or absence is deemed a substantial product hazard.
CPSC recall notices (dated 02/18/10) available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10144.html, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10143.html, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10142.html, and
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10140.html
CPSC drawstring guidelines (updated September 1999) available at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/208.pdf