Welcome back to Listing Lounge! We are glad to see you back to learn more and today we are going to review the requirements around button cell batteries.

We have had a lot of contacts regarding getting listings reviewed by the compliance team, so I wanted to share more information with you and follow up on our news post.

The law regarding button cell batteries was changed due to Reese's Law, which was created to help protect children 6 and under from potentially ingesting a coin or button cell batteries.

Per UL.com:

Reese’s Law: A new era in battery safety

Signed by U.S. President Biden on Aug. 16, 2022, Reese’s Law mandates federal safety requirements for button cell and coin batteries. The intent of this groundbreaking rule is to eliminate or adequately reduce the risk of injury from ingestion of button cell or coin batteries by children six years of age and younger during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions.

16 CFR part 1263: Implementing Reese’s Law

On Feb. 9, 2023, the CPSC published the Notice for Proposed Rulemaking for safety rule 16 CFR part 1263, the Safety Standard and Notification Requirements for Button Cell and Coin Batteries and Consumer Products Containing Such Batteries. This rule established performance, labeling, and other related requirements as mandated by Reese’s Law, marking a significant step forward in battery safety.

Reese’s Law and 16 CFR part 1263 have a wide scope, encompassing consumer products placed in the U.S. market with both removable and non-removable button cell or coin batteries. The requirements affect any general use or children’s product using such batteries, including single-cell batteries where the diameter exceeds the height, or any other batteries identified by CPSC as an ingestion risk, while toys and products for professional or commercial use are exempted. Product categories include, for example, consumer electronics, information technology equipment, audio and video, hard goods, accessories, apparel and footwear.

Infographic showing consumer products with both removable and non-removable button cell or coin batteries

While we understand that the review time that it is taking for the Compliance Team to review is taking longer than sellers would like, unfortunately, there is no way to speed up this process.

We have also had sellers contact us regarding their battery is not a coin or button cell battery and want that information updated on the listing. If your product has been updated and no longer contains a button cell battery, then you are required to create a new ASIN per the Product Detail Page Rules policy.

Policies for editing detail pages

You may only update detail pages to better or more accurately describe the product as originally listed. For example, permissible updates include additional details, clarifications, grammatical fixes, or removal of content that violates Amazon policy.

You must not use an existing listing for a new version of a product. This includes changes in color, size, material, features, and product name. Instead, create a new product detail page for each new version. For example, a manufacturer updates its streaming media player by adding a new remote control with four buttons instead of two. This product is materially different from the older version and it must be listed as a new ASIN.

For more information on the legal requirements for coin or button cell batteries, please review Button cell and coin batteries and products that contain them.

While I know that these policies can be frustrating as it takes time to get documents reviewed and approved. Amazon has to follow the laws that are set in place to ensure the safety of your customers is number one, and we thank you for your understanding when it takes a little longer than you would like.

Please let us know if you have any questions. If you have a specific case you would like us to look at, please create a new thread and we will be happy to take a look.

Until next time!

Michelle

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