US Agency Holds Amazon Responsible for Sale of Hazardous Third-Party Products, Says Reuters

By Deborah Mary Sophia

A recent statement from a U.S. government agency has determined that Amazon.com bears responsibility for the sale of hazardous products from third-party sellers on its platform. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has directed the e-commerce giant to outline measures to inform consumers about these products and encourage them to return or properly dispose of them.

This directive pertains to over 400,000 items, including defective carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers lacking electrocution protection, and children’s sleepwear that fails to meet flammability standards. The CPSC indicated that Amazon did not adequately notify the public regarding these unsafe products or encourage customers to return or destroy them, thereby increasing the risk of potential injuries to consumers. The agency categorizes Amazon as a "distributor" of these defective products due to its role in storing and shipping them.

In response, Amazon has indicated plans to appeal the order and defend its position in court.

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently sent a warning letter to Amazon regarding the distribution of powerful chemical peel products that contravene the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA asserted that these products pose significant public health risks, potentially causing skin injuries like burns, wounds, swelling, and scarring. A similar warning was issued to Walmart, but the retailer did not provide a comment, nor did Amazon address the FDA’s concerns.

In July 2021, CPSC filed a lawsuit against Amazon, compelling the company to recall a substantial number of hazardous products sold on its site. Following this action, Amazon stated it had removed a "vast majority" of such items from its inventory and issued refunds to affected customers, maintaining that it merely provides logistics services for independent merchants and does not act as a distributor.

Last year, the agency also warned consumers to refrain from using toy magnets sold by a Chinese seller, which were available on the platform, after reports linked them to seven fatalities due to ingestion.