Applicable Laws
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection enforces Wisconsin’s consumer product safety laws. These laws include:
Hazardous Substances (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.37 and Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter ATCP 139).
Consumer Product Safety (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.42 and Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter ATCP 139).
Flammable Fabrics (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.41).
Poison Prevention Packaging (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.43).
Farm Equipment Safety Standards (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.47).
Child’s Containers Containing Bisphenol (Wisconsin Statutes section 100.335).
The department provides public information related to consumer product safety issues. Information helps consumers and affected businesses avoid product safety hazards. In many cases, public information also prompts the removal of dangerous or life threatening products.
The department also investigates consumer complaints related to hazardous household products and toys, cooperates with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and conducts in-depth investigations (often with CPSC). Many investigations have led to nationwide compliance actions. If necessary, the department may ban consumer products that present an unreasonable risk of injury or an imminent hazard to the public, order the modification, relabeling or recall of consumer products that present a substantial hazard or risk of injury, or prosecute violations in court (in cooperation with county district attorneys or the Department of Justice).