2009 Infant Product Recalls Set Record High With 20 Percent Increase Year Over Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2009, recalls of cribs, strollers, pacifiers, play yards, baby carriers, and other baby products flooded the news and struck fear into the lives of parents and consumers. Based on these alarming numbers, ExpertRECALL, the industry leader in recall logistics and regulatory compliance, declares 2009 the "Year of the Infant Product Recall." ExpertRECALL cites significant increases in the category of Children's Nursery Equipment and Supplies as regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

"2009 was frightening to parents of infant children, especially towards the end of the year with multiple massive recall announcements," said Mike Rozembajgier, Director of Recalls with ExpertRECALL. "Fortunately, industry leaders and trade associations are proactively addressing product safety concerns. Manufacturers continue to make consumer safety a chief priority, working with consumer groups and regulatory agencies to improve or develop industry standards where none currently exist. Organizations such as the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) are providing certification programs for its members."

For example, on December 16, 2009, the CPSC approved a new rule requiring manufacturers of infant or toddler products to establish and maintain a registration card program in order to improve communication between manufacturers and product owners and thus increase recall effectiveness.

There are clear and measurable indicators establishing 2009 as the Year of the Infant Recall. First and foremost, the number of recalls in 2009 within the Children's Nursery Equipment and Supplies category increased by nearly 20 percent. In fact, the category has experienced a steady increase in the number of recalls over the past four years. Since 2006, the number of recall events has more than doubled. This does not include other recently recalled items like window blinds which are outside of the Infant category but accounted for infant death and injury.

Another recall measure is the number of incidents reported to the CPSC. An incident is defined as any defect in the product reported by consumers. Consumers reported upwards of 2,500 product defects in 2009, a more than 450 percent increase over the previous year. In fact, the number of incidents reported in the Children's Nursery Equipment and Supplies category in 2009 nearly doubled the number of incidents in the category reported in 2007.

While the statistics may be alarming, ExpertRECALL sees a ray of hope. "Under Commissioner Tenenbaum, the CPSC is adding resources and tools to more closely monitor, report and create awareness of products that present safety hazards," adds Rozembajgier. "Parents and consumers are better educated about concerns of choking and lead paint and are making better purchase decisions on infant-related items. An important element of that education is awareness of what is already in the home and completing product registration cards as a means to stay connected to the manufacturer in the event of a recall."

"What also complicates matters is that big ticket nursery items, like cribs and bassinets, are often passed down from one generation to the next without assembly instructions or the appropriate product warnings," Mr. Rozembajgier continued. "When using these items, it is critical that consumers take full cautionary measures to ensure the safety of their little ones."

About ExpertRECALL(TM)

ExpertRECALL is a service of Stericycle (SRCL). ExpertRECALL is the industry leader in managing consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls. ExpertRECALL streamlines the entire product recall process and manages Notification & Response, Processing & Tracking, and Compliance & Reporting for pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer products companies. For more information, visit http://www.expertrecall.com.

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SOURCE ExpertRECALL