The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has ordered the recall of more than 100,000 pairs of baby pants produced in Kenya and sold at American retail stores.
The CPSC says that numerous production flaws in the baby-appropriate pants have made them harmful and risky to wear. Infants and young children are reportedly at risk while wearing garments with metallic snaps that could possibly fall off and suffocate them.
As a result of the discovered safety issues, retail establishments have been told to contact the parents who bought the items and assist with the return procedure. Out of the 100,000 units, 97,400 were purchased in the US and 1,800 in Canada. Each pair cost approximately Ksh3,600 ($25).
The Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Nairobi and Machakos are home to textile factories that produce the clothing that is sold to the US. The clothing is shipped under the terms of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants African clothing producers priority access to the US market.
The $25 pants were made in Kenya, according to the children’s clothing company based in Secaucus, New Jersey. Kenyan government officials, including Trade CS Moses Kuria, are redoubling their efforts to revive the country’s struggling textile industry, which is competing with imports of low-cost secondhand clothing.
Clothing for children frequently has compliance issues. Children’s pajamas that were combustible were recalled by the CPSC in June and February, and children were also discovered to be at risk of burn injuries when wearing Amazon robes.
