Frequently Asked Questions

Consumer >> Submitting an Accurate Report

If I accidentally name the wrong manufacturer in my Report, will the Report still be posted?

Your Report will be sent to the manufacturer or private labeler you identify in your Report first. If the manufacturer or private labeler you have identified does not believe they have been identified correctly, they can submit a claim to the CPSC that the Report contains materially inaccurate information, and ask the CPSC to correct the information. If the CPSC determines that the manufacturer has been misidentified, we cannot publish your Report in SaferProducts.gov until 10 business days after transmission of the Report to the correct manufacturer or private labeler. If you realize after submitting a Report that you have made a mistake in identifying the manufacturer, or you discover that you have misidentified any other important information in the Report, please contact us immediately, in writing, to let us know about the error. Send corrections to:

What is materially inaccurate information?

Materially inaccurate information is information in a Report or a manufacturer comment that is false or misleading, and that is so substantial and important as to affect a reasonable consumer's decision making about the product.

If a manufacturer claims that my Report has materially inaccurate information, will it be removed from the site?

Not necessarily. If a manufacturer makes a claim that a Report contains materially inaccurate information, the CPSC will review the claim and make a determination whether the manufacturer has met its burden to establish a material inaccuracy in the Report. If the CPSC determines before the Report is posted that information in a Report is materially inaccurate, it must resolve the inaccuracy before publishing the Report in SaferProducts.gov. The CPSC will favor correction of information, and the addition of information to correct a Report, over excluding entire Reports from SaferProducts.gov. If correcting a Report results in the removal of any of the minimum information required for publication, the Report cannot be posted in SaferProducts.gov. The corrected Report, nevertheless, will be maintained by the CPSC for internal use.

If a manufacturer submits a claim that a Report contains materially inaccurate information after the Report is published in SaferProducts.gov, or if the CPSC cannot make a determination before the 10th business day, any information that the CPSC later determines to be materially inaccurate will be corrected within seven business days of such a determination.

How can I file a claim that a manufacturer comment contains materially inaccurate information?

Any person can make a claim at any time that information in a Report or a manufacturer comment is materially inaccurate (See Business - Confidentiality & Accuracy).

To submit a claim to the CPSC that information in SaferProducts.gov is materially inaccurate, members of the general public must send a claim directed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by email at: clearinghouse@cpsc.gov, or by U.S. mail to:

The person asserting a claim of materially inaccurate information bears the burden of proof, and must:

• State the unique identifier of the Report or manufacturer comment to which the request for a determination of materially inaccurate information pertains;
• Specifically identify the exact portion(s) of the Report or manufacturer comment claimed to be materially inaccurate;
• State the basis for the allegation that such information is materially inaccurate;
• Provide evidence, which may include documents, statements, electronic mail, Internet links, photographs, or any other evidence, sufficient for the CPSC to make a determination that the designated information is materially inaccurate;
• State what relief the requester is seeking: exclusion of the entire Report or manufacturer comment, redaction of specific information, correction of specific information, or the addition of information to correct the material inaccuracy;
• State whether and how an alleged material inaccuracy may be corrected without removing or excluding an entire Report or manufacturer comment; and
• State whether the person submitting the allegation of material inaccuracy is authorized to make claims of material inaccuracy on behalf of the person or organization concerned.

Additionally, persons submitting such a claim must: (a) verify that the information in the claim is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief; and (b) certify, in writing, that they intend, in good faith, to assist the CPSC in the defense of any judicial proceeding that may be brought thereafter to compel the disclosure of information that the CPSC has determined to be materially inaccurate information.

What action will the CPSC take regarding a claim that a manufacturer comment contains materially inaccurate information?

Any person can make a claim at any time that information in a Report or a manufacturer comment is materially inaccurate (See Business - Confidentiality & Accuracy).

If the CPSC makes a determination, after investigation, that a manufacturer's comment published in SaferProducts.gov contains materially inaccurate information, CPSC shall notify the person making the claim of its determination, and advise how CPSC intends to resolve the inaccuracy. CPSC then has seven business days to take one of the following actions:

• Remove the information determined to be materially inaccurate;
• Correct the materially inaccurate information, and, if the minimum requirements for publication are still met, maintain the manufacturer comment in SaferProducts.gov; or
• Add information to the manufacturer comment to correct the materially inaccurate information; and, if the minimum requirements for publication are still met, maintain the manufacturer comment in SaferProducts.gov.

What happens if CPSC discovers that someone knowingly provides false information on a Report or a manufacturer comment?

If CPSC discovers that someone knowingly provides false information on a Report or a manufacturer comment, we will take action to remove materially inaccurate information from SaferProducts.gov. In addition, we will review the facts of each case, and where circumstances warrant, we will seek legal remedies against those involved. (See Business - Confidentiality & Accuracy)

Still have questions?

You can use the Online Contact Form or call (800) 638-2772 to contact CPSC's Hotline for any additional questions.