Los Angeles–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists assigned to the LA/Long Beach seaport in collaboration with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigators intercepted and seized 2,418 hair dryers for lacking the required immersion protection device resulting in a substantial product hazard.
The seized hair dryers arriving from China pose an electrical shock and/or electrocution hazard to the user, according to CBP and CPSC
CBP officers seized the hair dryers on July 17, after CPSC investigators tested samples and confirmed the hair dryers were in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), for not having the required immersion protection device. Hand hair dryers not equipped with such device could expose the user to electrical shock and or electrocution.
CPSC has determined that hand-supported hair dryers that are not equipped with integral immersion protection are a substantial product hazard. A hand-supported hair dryer without this protection can be recalled.
Integral immersion protection reduces the risk of electric shock if the hair dryer is immersed in, or otherwise contacts, water. This protection is provided in a block-shaped plug that incorporates a type of circuit interrupter.
In fiscal year 2019, CBP seized 5,859 shipments containing goods that can pose a health, safety and security risk to the consumer. This represents a 10 percent increase from 5329 shipments in fiscal year 2018.
Sporting goods, gun and gun parts topped the list with 1,428 seizures representing 24 percent of all seizures, followed by consumer electronics seizures, 17 percent; pharmaceuticals, 15 percent; sun glasses/eyewear, 14 percent; and personal care, 8 percent.
