U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Buffalo, New York, port of entry seized nearly 350,000 batteries on March 26 after determining they did not meet child protective packaging standards, according to an April 7 announcement.
The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by customs officials to keep unsafe products out of the U.S. marketplace and protect consumers from potential harm.
Officers initially inspected a commercial shipment of hearing aid batteries on February 9 at the Peace Bridge warehouse and detained them for further review. A sample was sent to investigators with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), who found that the batteries violated Reese’s Law. This law requires that products containing button cell or coin batteries have secure, child-resistant compartments to prevent injuries caused by accidental ingestion.
"CBP officers at the Buffalo port of entry are committed to protecting the public from unsafe products and this seizure demonstrates our dedication to safety and compliance,” said Acting Port Director Sharon Swiatek. “Working closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, our officers took decisive action to prevent these hazardous items from entering the U.S. marketplace."
Following CPSC recommendations, CBP officers seized all noncompliant batteries in late March. The shipment was valued at approximately $100,000.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America's frontline law enforcement organization responsible for unified border management across land, air, and sea operations.
