Welcome to the Alston & Bird 2016 CPSC Recall Snapshot Year in Review.

How did the activity by the CPSC in 2016 compare to that of 2015? As noted in our CPSC Year in Review, the CPSC issued its largest civil penalty in history – the largest amount allowed by law – in 2016 and increased the overall annual total for civil penalties by almost $16 million. In addition, the number of products recalled in 2016 was unprecedented. Almost 250 million products were recalled in 2016, compared with just under 31 million in 2015. And although the major product category for recalls remained children’s products with 73 recalls in 2016, housewares was a close second with 72.

In this current political climate, it is difficult to predict how things may change at the CPSC in 2017. If 2016 is any indication, however, the CPSC will continue to aggressively pursue recalls and civil penalties for the foreseeable future – at least until the Trump Administration appoints a new commissioner and the CPSC shifts from a Democratic to Republican majority.