After a child died in a Peloton treadmill accident, US lawmakers push for new product recall powers

• Three US lawmakers on Thursday called for new regulator powers to enforce recalls on products deemed dangerous.
• The bill comes after regulators asked Peloton to recall its Tread+ treadmill, deeming it unsafe, but Peloton declined.
• A child died in a Peloton treadmill accident earlier this month. Peloton insists the treadmill is safe.

A group of US lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill to give US regulators more power to recall products deemed to be dangerous.

It follows the news of Peloton's refusal to recall its $4,295 Tread+ treadmill, after reports that a child died and others were injured while using the machine.

Peloton insisted that the machine was safe to use, provided customers follow the instructions and warnings.

Critics said US regulators should be able to enforce product recalls, rather than just request them.

A law - Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act - prevents regulators from enforcing recalls and lets manufacturers restrict information released by regulators if there is a problem with a product. The new bill introduced Thursday aims to revoke that section of the law.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, one of the three lawmakers to introduce the new bill, said in a statement Thursday that current laws "allow companies to call the shots on how and when to notify the public about their hazardous products, keeping important safety information from the public."

Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Bobby L. Rush are the other two lawmakers who introduced the bill.

Elliot Kaye, a commissioner for the CPSC, said in 2019 that "people die because of Section 6(b). It is that simple."

The new legislation - the Sunshine in Product Safety Act - would revoke Section 6(b) and allow the CPSC "to communicate vital health and safety information about potentially dangerous products to consumers without risking retaliation by the manufacturer," the three lawmakers who put forward the bill said.

Peloton did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the new bill. In a previous comment, a spokesperson told Insider that "a recall has never been warranted."

"The Peloton Tread+ is safe when operated as directed and in accordance with the warnings and safety instructions," they said.

Critics are urging Congress to support this bill.

Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports, said: "Companies shouldn't be able to hide safety hazards or have the CPSC seek their permission before warning the public. People expect to hear about it if a product might put them or their families at risk.

"We strongly urge every member of Congress to support the Sunshine in Product Safety Act and make sure that our laws put people's safety ahead of corporate profits."