Following are the CPSC’s allegations of misconduct by Gree:
From January 2005 to August 2013, Gree sold approximately 2.5 million dehumidifiers under various brand names in the United States. The dehumidifiers were defective because they could and did overheat and catch fire. As a result of the fires, significant property damage occurred to consumers’ homes.
Gree first received reports of this fire hazard in July 2012 and implemented design changes to remedy the defect. However, Gree did not file a timely report to the CPSC as required by Sections 15(b)(3) and (4) of the CPSA. Additionally, Gree made unauthorized use of the UL safety certification mark, even though it knew that the dehumidifiers did not comply with the applicable UL flammability standards. Gree made material misrepresentations to staff, when it told staff that the dehumidifiers met the UL flammability standards and in its statements regarding when Gree became aware that the dehumidifiers in fact were not compliant with UL standards. Gree finally notified the CPSC about the dehumidifiers in March of 2013, and subsequently cooperated with CPSC to implement a voluntary recall.[i]
CPSC’s Office of General Counsel successfully and appropriately obtained the maximum penalty for each alleged violation. In total, Gree agreed to pay a civil monetary penalty of $15.45 million. Gree also agreed to implement a compliance program designed to ensure compliance with CPSA and CPSC regulations, and implement, maintain, and enforce a system of internal controls to ensure, among other things, timely reports to CPSC.
[i] Gree states that agreeing to settle staff’s charges does not constitute an admission that reportable information or a substantial product hazard exist.