Crawford Textile Corp. Fined $150,000 for Selling Dangerously Flammable
Fabric
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that Crawford Textile Corp., of Greensboro, N.C., has
agreed to pay a civil penalty of $150,000. The penalty settles
allegations that the firm sold highly flammable fabric to a garment
manufacturer, a violation of the Federal Flammable Fabrics Act, and also
did not report the sale of the flammable material to the CPSC, as
required by the Consumer Product Safety Act.
In September 1998, Crawford manufactured approximately 22,570
yards of weathered blue sherpa fabric, which it sold to Milano Express
Inc., a garment manufacturer. After shipping the fabric, Crawford
received test reports showing that six out of 23 lots failed federal
flammability requirements. The fabric was dangerously flammable, and
unsuitable to be made into clothing because of its rapid and intense
burning. After receiving this information, Crawford did not notify CPSC
and Milano. As a result, Milano distributed between 3,300 and 4,000
sweatshirts made with flammable fabric.
The fabric was made into women's blue, berber tunic pullover
sweatshirts. A tag in the collar reads, "Authenic E.N.U.F.
international," "EST. 1987," and "MADE IN U.S.A."
Costco stores nationwide sold these sweatshirts from October 1998 through
April 1999 for about $17. Direct notice was sent to consumers by Costco.
In agreeing to settle this matter, Crawford Textile Corp. denies
that it violated the Flammable Fabrics Act and the Consumer Product
Safety Act.