In June, 2001, the Consumer Federation of America Foundation (CFAF) petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Administration (CPSC) to improve the effectiveness of recalls to children’s products. CPSC has agreed to examine the request that all manufacturers (or distributors, retailers or importers) of products intended for children provide a Consumer Registration Card to register information either through mail or electronic mail.

The purpose is to facilitate direct contact to the consumer in case of a recall. In the petition, CFAF distinguished the registration card it was requesting from the more common marketing cards associated with products which traditionally ask an enormous array of questions irrelevant to safety notification. Consumers are either turned away by the number and scope of the questions or because they know these cards are used for marketing rather than safety purposes. Add the fact that these products are normally used for long periods of time, often being given to family members for their children, and the need for a mandated notification becomes even more clear.

Recall rates are under 20% for CPSC recalled products indicating a need for a new method to reach consumers. CFAF believes the Consumer Registration Card is the solution.