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Consumer's Guide to
Recalls
This guide helps explore the Federal agencies which issue consumer
product safety warnings or recalls for specific categories of consumables.
Alcoholic Beverages
Governing Agency:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF):
The ATF regulates alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and
firearms. When alcoholic beverages or tobacco products contain impurities or
unapproved substances, the ATF may request that the FDA recall, detain, or seize offending
products. The ATF cannot force a direct recall of those products. When the
products are imported, the ATF may revoke any and all import licenses relating to the
offending product.
If there is a problem with a product, report it to the ATF,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
650 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20226
(202) 535-6379
Boats
(Recreational) and Boating Equipment
Governing Agency:
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States' Coast Guard regulates the safety of recreational
boats and boating equipment. Regulations require manufacturers to maintain lists of
the original buyers, which allows them to notify these owners about safety violations or
defects.
To report safety problems, please call:
United States Coast Guard (GBC)
Washington, DC 20593
Boating Safety Hotline:
1 (800) 368-5647 (toll-free)
(202) 267-0780 (Washington, DC area)
Cars, Trucks
and Automotive Equipment
Governing Agency:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
The Department of Transportation (US DOT)
Automobiles must meet NHTSA safety requirements. When vehicles
are not in compliance, the NHTSA will mandate a recall of the vehicle. The recall
may include a minor issue, such as a lighting problem, or a major problem such as brakes.
However, even though most vehicles are registered, not many equipment parts and
replacement parts are registered. Thus, unless vehicle owners are aware of a recall,
many never realize that there are recalls for replacement parts. To alleviate this
problem, the NHTSA attempts to make recall notices as public as possible. For
example, there is a monthly list of recalls issues by the NHTSA.
To report vehicle safety problems:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20690
Auto Safety Hotline:
1 (800) 424-9393
1 (800) 424-9153 (hearing impaired)
Food And Drugs
Governing Agency:
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA the agency responsible for the safety of
foods, other than meat and poultry. The agency also regulates prescription and
nonprescription drugs, biologics, cosmetics, and medical devices. FDA recalls are
classified according to the danger they represent to the public (Class 1, 2, and 3).
Class 1 notices refer to articles with serious adverse health consequence or that may
result in death. Class 2 notices refer to articles representing some degree of
health hazard, but that are not life-threatening. Class 3 notices refer to articles
representing no heath hazard, even though there has been an FDA manufacturing or labeling
violation.
If you are aware of a problem within the scope of
the FDA, report it to:
Consumer Affairs and Information
Staff Food and Drug Administration
(HFE-88) 5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
(301) 443-3170
Manufactured
Housing
Governing Agency:
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Manufactured housing does not have to meet local
government agency standards. Manufactured housing must conform to regulations set by
the Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The department monitors these
regulations and requires the names of all purchasers to be recorded by the
manufacturers. This allows manufacturers to contact consumers when there are safety
issues.
To report safety problems with a manufactured home,
call HUD:
Manufactured Housing and Construction
Standards Division
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Room 9156
Washington, DC 20410
1 (800) 927-2891
Meat And Poultry
Governing Agency:
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
FSIS inspectors oversee meat and poultry
processing for meat products that enter the stream of interstate commerce. Thus, the
FSIS does not regulate meat processing when the meat is processed and sold within the same
State; the State health agency is responsible for this monitoring). When there are
problems with inspected meat, the FSIS may request a recall. There are three classes
of recalls, according to the health danger to the public. Class 1 refers to meat
products which present a reasonable probability of serious harm or death. Class 2
refers to meat products which present a reasonable probability of bodily injury.
Class 3 refers to meat products which present little chance of bodily injury.
To report concerns about meat and poultry safety,
please call the FSIS:
Meat and Poultry Hotline
Food Safety and Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC 20250
Meat and Poultry Hotline:
1 (800) 535-4555 (toll-free, voice/TDD)
(202) 447-3333 (Washington, DC area, voice/TDD)
Pesticides
and Automobile Emissions
Governing Agency:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
The EPA regulates both automobile emissions and
pesticides, according to EPA standards. Pesticides not conforming to these standards
may be recalled. Where emissions are elevated beyond the standards, the manufacturer
is notified by the EPA, which then notifies consumers so that the manufacturer may remedy
the defect.
To report concerns about vehicle emissions, call:
Office of Mobile Sources
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 382-2491
To report concerns about pesticide safety, please
call:
National Pesticides Telecommunications
Network
Department of Preventive Medicine
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79430
National Pesticides Telecommunications
Network:
1 (800) 858-7378 (toll-free)
(806) 743-3091 (In Texas)
Toys, Appliances,
Household, and Recreational Products
Governing Agency:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
CPSC regulates the safety of toys, appliances,
household, and recreational products. Recalls are publicized through the media and
on the Internet.
To report safety problems items regulated by the
CPSC, please call:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207
Product Safety Hotline:
1 (800) 638-2772 (toll-free)
1 (800) 638-8270 (toll-free, TDD)
1 (800) 492-8104 (toll-free, TDD in Maryland)
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