CVS fined $45,000 for failing to report drawstrings in children's clothing

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that CVS agreed to pay a $45,000 civil penalty for not reporting children's outerwear with drawstrings that was sold at its store but subject to a safety recall.

Drawstrings in children's clothing pose a strangulation hazard if a child becomes entangled in the neck or waist drawstring of a jacket or sweatshirt.

The settlement agreement states that CVS failed to report (as required by federal law) that it had sold children's hooded jackets with drawstrings at the neck from August 2008 to January 2009. In March 2009, CPSC and the importer of the jackets announced a recall of the products, which were sold under the brand names Golden Grove and Young USA.

For more than 10 years now, the CPSC has had drawstring guidelines to help prevent children from strangling on, or getting entangled in, the neck and waist drawstrings of upper outerwear.

Macy's also recently paid a similar, although much heftier, civil penalty for also failing to report drawstrings in children's clothing.

CVS Agrees to $45,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Drawstrings in Children's Jackets
Drawstrings pose strangulation and entanglement hazards to children [CPSC]

—Maggie Shader