Watch out for serious safety issues for goods shipped directly to consumers from overseas

There’s a new trend in product safety that American consumers need to know about.

E-commerce has radically changed how Americans shop.

With so many products coming from outside the United States, particularly products imported from China, the number of safety warnings is increasing. Under a current exemption, goods valued under $800 enter the U.S. with minimal inspection by Customs and Border Protection or CBP, bypassing safety checks.

The volume of such shipments has exploded since the threshold was raised in 2016 – from 153 million in 2015 to over 1 billion in 2023 – overwhelming both CBP and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s, or CPSC, ability to monitor and prevent hazardous products from entering American homes.

As online marketplaces have grown, so too have the risk associated with unsafe products sold directly to consumers.

An alarming rise in unilateral safety warnings issued by the CPSC is occurring as a result of growing e-commerce risks, a new analysis of 2024 safety data by the Consumer Federation of America or CFA, a consumer advocacy organization, found. (The usual process is for the CPSC to issue recalls or warnings with the company selling the product voluntarily participating rather than by the agency alone.)

In 2020, the CPSC issued only three such warnings. However, in 2024, the number rose to 64, many linked to products manufactured overseas and sold online, primarily through major e-commerce platforms. Of the 64 warnings, 42 were from China, and 61 were sold online.

The types of injuries linked to these unsafe products are deeply concerning, Courtney Griffin, director of consumer product safety at CFA, said in a statement.

Griffin said among the 2024 warnings, some tragic cases stand out, including the death of a high school student from a pole that entered his eye cavity during a soccer game and the fatal accident of an elderly couple caused by a faulty tabletop fireplace.

These incidents demonstrate the real dangers consumers face when unsafe products are left on the market without clear remedies, she said.

Griffin said when companies refuse to act, the CPSC can only pursue mandatory recalls through legal processes, which are often slow and ineffective. In addition, the CPSC lacks the authority to compel foreign manufacturers – especially those in China – to comply, leaving many unsafe products unaddressed.

While the CPSC’s unilateral warnings help raise awareness, they don’t offer the immediate remedy that formal recalls do, such as refunds, repairs, or replacements.

“These numbers tell a troubling story of how e-commerce has outpaced our ability to ensure product safety,” said Griffin. “CPSC is working hard to protect consumers, but unilateral safety warnings are no substitute for formal recalls.”

In addition, Griffin said, consumer product safety laws need to be strengthened.