What is: 22-9578 CPSC Magnetsafety.org, et al., Petitioners v. Consumer Product Safety Commission

MagnetSafety.org vs CPSC (22-9578) case revolves around a legal challenge to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) September 2022 rule banning high-powered magnets. Here are the key aspects of the case:

Core Issue

The CPSC issued a final rule banning small, high-powered magnets to reduce the risk of children swallowing them[2][3]. This ban affects various consumer products and has been challenged by industry groups including MagnetSafety.org, the Hobby Manufacturers Association, and the National Retail Hobby Stores Association.

Legal Arguments

 Constitutional Challenge

The primary constitutional argument centers on the CPSC's leadership structure. The petitioners argue that the CPSC's structure is unconstitutional because its commissioners can only be removed by the President "for cause" rather than at will[1][2].

 Regulatory Concerns

The challengers argue that the CPSC:

- Failed to properly account for trends in magnet ingestion data

- Did not adequately differentiate between high-powered and other types of magnets

- Ignored existing voluntary standards (at least four domestic and two international standards)

- Overestimated costs and underestimated benefits of keeping these products on market[1]

Historical Context

This isn't the first such challenge - a previous CPSC magnet ban in 2014 was vacated by the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case called Zen Magnets, LLC v. CPSC[1]. The current challenge argues that the CPSC has repeated many of the same errors that led to the previous ban being overturned.

Current Status

The case is active and scheduled for oral arguments before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 20, 2024[3]. Various organizations have filed amicus briefs, including Public Citizen and the Constitutional Accountability Center, supporting the CPSC's position that its leadership structure is constitutional[2][3].

Citations:

[1] https://nclalegal.org/case/magnetsafety-org-hobby-manufacturers-assn-and-national-retail-hobby-stores-assn-inc-v-cpsc/

[2] https://www.citizen.org/litigation/magnetsafety-org-v-consumer-product-safety-commission/

[3] https://www.theusconstitution.org/litigation/magnetsafety-org-v-consumer-product-safety-commission/