Online retail giants are now under scrutiny. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has already sent letters to online shopping portals like Amazon, eBay, Meta, and Walmart, inquiring about their efforts to prevent the sale of recalled and banned products on their platforms.
House Committee Raises Concerns Over Recalled Products on Amazon, eBay, Meta, and Walmart
Online retailers are facing a barrage of inquiries concerning their strategies for handling recalled products, Engadget reported.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has initiated action by dispatching letters to prominent online shopping platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Meta, and Walmart, seeking comprehensive information about their measures to impede the sale of banned and recalled items on their platforms.
The focal point of concern revolves around allegations that Meta failed to intervene and prevent sales of two specific recalled child products, the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play sleeper and the Boppy Newborn Lounger, on Facebook Marketplace.
This ongoing discourse underscores the growing apprehension regarding the effectiveness of online retailers in preventing the circulation of products that have been recalled for safety reasons.
House committee members, including chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), along with Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), have already reached out to Meta and other online marketplaces.
Requesting Information From Online Retailers
In a press statement, the House committee requested comprehensive information from the companies, seeking details about their ongoing measures to prevent the sale of recalled items.
It also includes information about dedicated staff and their roles. The legislators are also keen to know about the companies' future plans and whether there's any legal uncertainty on how to address the problems.
The letters extended an invitation for cooperation, asking if the companies are open to collaborating with the committee to find solutions. An August 31 deadline has been set for the companies to respond.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson from Meta highlighted that the occurrence of recalled product sales isn't exclusive to Facebook Marketplace. The spokesperson noted that Meta is dedicated to addressing the matter earnestly and promptly removes listings that contravene its regulations.
Similarly, eBay asserted that it takes the recalls seriously, telling Engadget that the company utilizes a combination of AI and investigators to identify potentially unsafe listings. The platform also expressed willingness to collaborate with the House committee to address these concerns.
In 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued recalls for the Rock 'n Play and the Newborn Lounger in 2021. Despite this, the rate of takedown requests, averaging around 1,000 per month, has remained steady. Notably, no apparent "proactive measures" have been taken to prevent sales.
With around 100 infant deaths linked to the Rock 'n Play, the apprehension voiced by the House committee's members centers on the perceived insufficient efforts of online marketplaces to curtail these sales. It raises concerns about potential risks to children and other users due to these inadequate measures.
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