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Macy's Agrees to Pay $750,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Drawstrings in Children's Outerwear

Release Date: July 11, 2011

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Macy's Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $750,000. The penalty agreement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.

The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Macy's knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that it had sold children's sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets with drawstrings at the neck between 2006 and 2010. Children's upper outerwear with drawstrings, including sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets, poses a strangulation hazard to children that can result in serious injury or death.

The sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets that are the subject of the penalty agreement were sold by Macy's and Macy's-owned stores, including Bloomingdale's, and Robinsons-May. CPSC staff alleges that Macy's knowingly sold some garments after a recall had been negotiated, which the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 made illegal.

Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or fails to comply with any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban enforced by CPSC.

In 1996, CPSC issued drawstring guidelines to help prevent children from strangling on or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings of upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts. In 2006, CPSC's Office of Compliance announced that children's upper outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as defective and presented a substantial risk of injury to young children.

Beginning in 2006, CPSC and the garments' manufacturers and distributors announced recalls of the following children's garments with drawstrings that were sold at Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Robinsons-May:

- Quiksilver Inc. Hide & Seek hooded sweatshirts;

- Jerry Leigh of California Inc. Harajuku Lovers Hooded Jackets;

- La Jolla Sport USA Inc. O'Neill children's sweatshirts;

- Dysfunctional Clothing LLC children's hooded sweatshirts;

- Macy's Merchandising Group Inc. Epic Threads hooded sweatshirts and Greendog sweaters;

- C-MRK Inc. Ocean Current boys' hooded sweatshirts;

- NTD Apparel Inc. Hello Kitty hooded sweatshirts;

- S. Rothschild & Co Inc. girls' coats; and

- VF Contemporary Brands Inc. Splendid girls' hooded jackets and vest sets

In agreeing to the settlement, Macy's denies CPSC staff allegations that it knowingly violated the law.

Note: On June 29, 2011, the Commission approved a final rule that designates children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 12 with neck or hood drawstrings, and children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 16 with certain waist or bottom drawstrings, as substantial product hazards.



Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirt
Quiksilver Inc. Hide & Seek hooded sweatshirts



Picture of recalled hooded jacket
Jerry Leigh of California Inc.
Harajuku Lovers Hooded Jackets




Picture of recalled sweatshirts

Picture of recalled sweatshirts

Picture of recalled sweatshirts

Picture of recalled sweatshirts

Picture of recalled sweatshirts

Picture of recalled sweatshirts

La Jolla Sport USA Inc. O’Neill children’s sweatshirts with drawstrings



Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirts

Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirts

Dysfunctional Clothing LLC children’s hooded sweatshirts



Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirt

Macy’s Merchandising Group Inc.
Epic Threads and Greendog hooded sweatshirts




Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirt

C-MRK Inc Ocean Current boys hooded sweatshirts



Picture of recalled hooded sweatshirt

NTD Apparel Hello Kitty hoodie sweatshirts



Picture of recalled girls' coat     Picture of recalled girls' coat

S. Rothschild & Co Inc. girls' coats



Picture of recalled hooded vest set

Contemporary Brands Inc. Splendid girls' hooded jackets and vest sets
Release Number
11-274

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years. 

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