Final
Record of Commission Action
(Briefing package dated March 14, 2016, OS No.4527)
Decision
The Commission voted (4-1) to provisionally accept the Settlement Agreement and Order, which orders Gree Electronic Appliances, Inc., of Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co., Ltd., and Gree USA Sales, Ltd., (collectively “Gree”) to pay a civil penalty of $15.45 million and to take other remedial actions. The provisional Settlement Agreement and Final Order will be announced in a Federal Register Notice. The Compliance Division staff of the Office of the General Counsel negotiated the proposed agreement to settle staff allegations that Gree knowingly committed three prohibited acts under the Consumer Product Safety Act (“CPSA”): (1) section 19(a)(2) by failing to timely report under section 15(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. § 2064(b); (2) section 19(a)(13) by making a material misrepresentation to staff during staff’s investigation; and (3) section 19(a)(12) by using an unauthorized UL safety certification mark. The dehumidifiers posed a serious fire and burn hazard. Section 20(a)(1) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. § 2069(a)(1), permits the imposition of civil penalties for any person who knowingly violates prohibited acts.
Chairman Kaye, Commissioner Adler, Commissioner Robinson and Commissioner Mohorovic voted to provisionally accept the Settlement Agreement and Order. Commissioner Buerkle voted to reject the Settlement Agreement and Order. Commissioner Mohorovic and Commissioner Robinson filed the attached statements regarding this matter.
Commissioners Voting
Ballot vote due March 24, 2016
(Commissioner Mohorovic extended the vote due date from March 21, 2016)
- Chairman Elliot F. Kaye
- Commissioner Robert S. Adler
- Commissioner Ann Marie Buerkle
- Commissioner Joseph P. Mohorovic
- Commissioner Marietta S. Robinson
Attachments: