Washington, August 16, 2023 - The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for more than 100,000 pairs of baby jeans manufactured in Kenya and distributed in the United States and Canada. The recall was initiated due to concerns about faulty features in the clothing items that could pose a danger to infants and toddlers.
The recalled baby jeans were found to have metal snaps that could detach from the clothing, posing a choking hazard to young wearers. The CPSC has urged retail outlets to contact parents who purchased these jeans and facilitate the return process to ensure the safety of the children.
Of the total 100,000 pairs of jeans, approximately 97,400 were sold in the United States, while 1,800 were sold in Canada. The garments were sold for approximately Ksh3,600 (USD25) per pair.
The Kenyan-made clothes were produced by garment companies operating within the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Nairobi and Machakos counties. These companies export their products to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants preferential access to African manufacturers.
The recalled clothing items were exclusively sold at local stores from September 2022 to March 2023. In response to the recall, parents who purchased the items are being offered full refunds by the retail stores.
The decision to recall the products was prompted by a specific incident where a snap detached from one of the items, although no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
In Canada, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits the redistribution, sale, or gifting of recalled items to prevent any potential harm and maintain the country's reputation for product safety.
The Kenyan textile export market under the AGOA is a significant industry on the continent, providing employment opportunities to thousands in Export Processing Zones such as Athi River, Machakos County, and Nairobi's Ruaraka area. Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has expressed confidence in the market's growth, particularly as efforts are made to negotiate a free-trade agreement with the US before the AGOA deal expires in 2025.
Kuria has also outlined plans to support local garment production by increasing taxes on imported clothes, particularly second-hand garments, commonly referred to as mitumba. While research in 2022 indicated that only a small percentage of Kenyans buy locally-made clothes due to cost considerations, the government's efforts aim to promote domestic industries and address challenges related to expensive raw materials like imported cotton.