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Recall Guidance

This page compiles handbooks and information about a business’ obligations for conducting recalls. It also gives businesses information on how to conduct a recall.

  • Recall Handbook

    Recall Handbook

    This handbook helps you understand your obligations and responsibilities for conducting recalls under the Consumer Product Safety Act. It applies to you if you manufacture, import, distribute, or retail consumer products. The handbook includes information on CPSC’s Fast Track program.

  • Fast Track Program

    Fast Track Program

    The Fast-Track program helps your company remove unsafe products from the marketplace quickly. If you plan to conduct a recall and are not familiar with the Fast Track process, you should read this information guide. (retain linking)

  • Regulated Products Handbook

    Regulated Products Handbook

    This handbook has been developed to assist manufacturers, importers, retailers and others in the regulated community (firms) in understanding their responsibilities and what steps they should take when either the CPSC staff informs them, or they become aware of, a violation of CPSC statutes and regulations.

  • Test Methods, Manuals and Lab Bulletins

    Lab Bulletines

    CPSC product and chemical laboratory reference guides help with consumer product testing procedures.

  • Recall Planning

    One of the best ways to ensure that a product recall is effective is to have a recall plan already in place and to execute the plan as quickly as possible.

    View the Be Prepared Guide

  • How to Conduct a Recall

    You are required to report products that fail to comply with a safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban; that could create a substantial hazard; or that create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. This guide walks you through the online reporting process.

    Report a Potentially Unsafe Product

  • Required Report Information

    When you file a product report (also called a Section 15 report) with CPSC, you are required to provide us with certain information. This is outlined in Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations at Section 1115.13 (d)

    View the Required Report Information

  • Recall Notification Types

    A guide to maximize recall notification for recalling firms.

    View Recall Notification Types

  • Recall Checklist

    You need to recall a product. Now what? This checklist helps manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers conduct an effective and comprehensive product safety recall.

    View the Recall Checklist

  • Website Notification Guide for Recalling Companies

    When you issue a recall, you need to post the recall information on your website. Here’s guidance on how to post the information.

    View the Website Notification Guide

  • Social Media Guide for Recalling Companies

    Social media will help you reach consumers about a recall. This guide provides information on some popular social media tools and gives you information on how to use them to publicize a recall.

    View the Social Media Guide

  • Hotline Questions and Answers

    A recall hotline provides information to consumers about a recall. This guide will help you develop a hotline script.

    Hotline Questions and Answers

  • Create a Recall Poster

    As part of a recall, your company will be asked to create a recall poster to be displayed in retail stores. This guide tells you how to make a great poster.

    View the Recall Poster Guide

  • Video Guide

    This guide tells you how to prepare television and Web versions of the recall news release that can be distributed via satellite to TV stations nationwide and posted on YouTube.

    View the Video News Release Guide

  • Video: CPSC Presentation on Conducting a Recall

    This presentation provides extensive information on the recall process.

    Watch the Video

  • Monthly Progress Report Plan

    Companies that recall products are required to submit monthly progress reports for corrective action plans.

    Monthly Progress Report System Login and Guide   Download the Compliance Letter to the National Association of Manufacturers (PDF)

  • Guidelines for Retailers and Logistics Providers

    This guide provides the regulations that retailers and reverse logistics providers need to know. It contains excerpts of federal statutes.

    View the Guidelines

  • Guidelines and Requirements for Mandatory Recall Notices

    This rule contains CPSC’s interpretation of the information that must appear on mandatory recall notices as well as guidelines for additional information that CPSC or a court can order to be included in these notices.

    Guidelines/Requirements for Mandatory Recall Notices

  • Regulatory Robot

    Are you a small business starting out and manufacturing a product for children or other consumers? You may be wondering which federal product safety requirements, like CPSIA, apply to your product. We're here to help steer you in the right direction.

    Regulatory Robot

  • Recall Effectiveness

    Learn more about CPSC's work on Recall Effectiveness and download assets from our Recall Effectiveness Workshop

    View and download the recall effectiveness report, workshop notes, and transcripts
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