The CPSC will never again allow companies to call their voluntary corrective actions anything other than a “recall,” Elliot Kaye, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced. This announcement comes in response to IKEA’s use of the term “repair program,” rather than “recall,” in addressing furniture tip-over hazards associated with their MALM line of dressers. Rather than stopping production and allowing consumers to return the MALM product such as in a standard recall, IKEA simply issued “repair kits” for consumers. In light of continued IKEA MALM tip-over accidents, including a tragic toddler death, Kaye agreed with consumer advocates that IKEA’s “repair program” terminology has not had the same effects on consumers as the word “recall” would have.

Kaye has also indicated that the CPSC would sue IKEA if they didn’t take additional steps to address the issues with the dressers’ stability. The dressers are still on the market despite the fact that they don’t comply with industry voluntary standards when unanchored. The announcement shows that the CPSC is willing to reopen compliance investigations and take additional actions if they believe previous corrective efforts were insignificant.

Read the full article here.

Parents of any child injured by a dresser that has overturned — whether IKEA or any other brand — are urged to contact Feldman Shepherd to share their story and discuss their legal options. The firm can be reached at (844) 480-0100 or by filling out the form below.

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