The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has filed a complaint against Amazon for not taking responsibility of hazardous products on its website.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- On July 14, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) filed a complaint against the world’s largest retailer, Amazon.com, to force the company to accept responsibility for recalling potentially hazardous products sold on Amazon.com.
“Today’s vote to file an administrative complaint against Amazon was a huge step forward for this small agency,” Acting CPChairman Robert Adler said in a CPSC news release. “But it’s a huge step across a vast desert—we must grapple with how to deal with these massive third-party platforms more efficiently, and how best to protect the American consumers who rely on them.”
According to CPSC’s news release, the complaint charges Amazon with selling specific products that are defective and pose a risk of ‘serious injury or death’ to buyers and the company is being held legally responsible for recalling them.
The products include 24,000 faulty carbon monoxide detectors whose alarms don’t go off, various children’s pajamas that are in violation of the flammable fabric safety standard, risking burn injuries to kids, and nearly 400,000 hairdryers sold without the required immersion protection devices that protect consumers against shock and electrocution.
CPSC reportedly voted 3-1 in favor of approving the complaint, then forcing Amazon to cease the sale of these dangerous products, work with CPSC on a recall of the products and notify consumers who purchased them and offer a full refund.
According to the CPSC news release, “Although Amazon has taken certain action with respect to some of the named products, the complaint charges that those actions are insufficient.”