The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) will launch its highly anticipated “Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Database” in less than two weeks, on March 11, 2011. See CPSC Database: With Sunshine Comes Shadows. Upon launch, the public will be able to provide the CPSC with reports of harm involving a consumer product online at www.saferproducts.gov. Within five business days of receipt, the CPSC will transmit those reports to the manufacturers or private labelers of the subject product for comments. Ten days after the reports are transmitted to the company, the CPSC will publish the reports on its website. Although the database is intended to increase transparency, many fear that lack of quality control will lead to misinformation being published in the public, searchable database.

Manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of consumer products are strongly advised to register with the database to best position themselves to comment on a report of harm before the report is published. As the database notes, the benefits of registration include...