A Chinese appliance company will pay $15.45 million -- the largest penalty ever assessed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission -- to settle charges that it failed to report consumer safety hazards and lied to the agency about product defects and certifications, said the agency (here). CPSC alleges Gree Electric failed to report dangerous flammability issues in dehumidifiers it sold under 13 different brand names, including Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore. The settlement marks the first time a company has paid the per-violation maximum for CPSC penalties.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is finalizing a new safety standard for portable hook-on chairs. The agency’s final rule (here) adopts the current industry voluntary standard ASTM F1235 unchanged. The new standard includes requirements for sharp points, small parts, lead in paint, wood parts, latching and locking mechanisms, scissoring, shearing and pinching, exposed coil springs, openings, labeling and protective components. The standard also has test methods that must be used to assess conformity with its requirements. New testing and certification requirements take effect Sept. 28.

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 21 the following voluntary recalls:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is adopting changes (here) to its mandatory safety standard on architectural glazing materials, replacing test procedures for glazing materials in certain architectural products with the testing procedures contained in the current ANSI voluntary standard. The Safety Glazing Certification Council had requested the changes to the standard, which applies to glazing materials, as well as architectural products incorporating glazing materials used in households, recreational, school and public buildings, including doors, storm doors, bathtub and shower doors, and sliding glass doors. The final rule takes effect April 22

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 18 the following voluntary recalls:

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 16 the following voluntary recalls:

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 15 the following voluntary recalls:

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 9 the following voluntary recalls:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission published in the March 10 Federal Register its statement of policy (here) announcing it will not enforce general certificate of conformity requirements related to flammability testing for adult wearing apparel exempt from flammability standards. Adopted unanimously at a Feb. 24 meeting at CPSC headquarters, the new policy means importers of adult wearing apparel made from (1) plain surface fabrics weighing 2.6 ounces per square yard or more; or (2) any fabric, of any weight, both plain surface and raised-fiber, made from acrylic, modacrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester and/or wool, will no longer have to file general certificates of conformity with CPSC (see 1602240031). The new policy takes effect March 25.

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 8 the following voluntary recalls: