Product recall glossary

These are the terms you will see on recall pages from the US (CPSC), Canada (Health Canada) and the UK (OPSS). They are written in plain language, not legal text.

Recall

A public notice from a safety regulator or the company itself asking consumers to stop using, return, repair or exchange a product because it does not meet a safety requirement.

Hazard

The specific way a product can hurt someone — for example choking, fire, electric shock or a fall — as described by the regulator or the manufacturer.

Remedy

What the company offers to fix the problem: a refund, a free repair, a replacement product, or instructions to dispose of the item safely.

Retrofit

A free modification made to a product you already own — for example adding a safety guard or replacing a part — instead of returning or destroying it.

Choking hazard

A risk that a small part, button battery or detachable piece can block a child's airway if swallowed. It is the single most common hazard type in toy recalls.

Flammability

How easily a material catches fire and how fast it burns. Textiles, electronics and candles are recalled for flammability when they fail a mandatory flame-resistance test.

Fonte: CPSC Flammable Fabrics Act standards — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Product category

The type of product the regulator assigns to a recall (toys, furniture, appliances, electronics...). It is how our category hub pages group recalls.

Open Government Licence

The licence under which the UK and Canadian governments publish this recall data, allowing free reuse — including commercial use — as long as the source is credited.

Fonte: Open Government Licence v3.0 — UK National Archives.