Correction: The headline of this story has been updated. Reflecting that The CPSC is an independent federal agency..
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ruled on Tuesday that Amazon is legally liable for the recall of more than 400,000 dangerous products that were sold by third-party sellers on its website and packaged and shipped by the company.
The CPSC unanimously found Amazon to be a “seller” of defective products sold through its “Fulfillment by Amazon” program, holding the e-commerce giant legally liable for the safety of those products. The Commission also determined that those products presented a “significant product hazard.”
Amazon did not deny the safety risks of the products, but argued that it was not responsible for the safety of the products because it was not the “seller” of the products.
An administrative law judge (ALJ) previously rejected the argument, and the commission’s Tuesday order reaffirms that decision.
The commission also ruled Tuesday that Amazon failed to inform the public about the safety issues and “failed to take appropriate steps to encourage customers to return or discard the products, placing consumers at risk of serious injury.”
The committee ordered Amazon to submit a plan to inform the public about unsafe products and offer incentives to customers to return or discard them.
Amazon said it had sent messages to first buyers of the products informing them of the “potential” safety issue and offered them Amazon.com Inc. credits, but officials said those steps were not enough to address the dangers of the products and adequately protect the public.
Government officials noted that the credits were offered in lieu of refunds “to encourage the return or destruction of products.”
Tuesday’s order applies to more than 400,000 recalled products, including hair dryers that don’t have proper shock protection, faulty carbon monoxide detectors and children’s pajamas that violate federal flammability standards, according to the US government agency’s Office of Recalls. press release.
An Amazon spokesman said the company was “disappointed” with the decision, planned to appeal, and looked forward to presenting its case in court.
“Through our A-to-Z Guarantee, we guarantee the safety of all products in our stores, whether sold by Amazon or our selling partners,” the spokesperson said. “We take proactive measures to prevent unsafe products and continually monitor the items listed in our stores. If we find any unsafe products being sold, we immediately address the issue and improve our processes.”
The story was updated at 7:20 p.m.
