The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has slapped Apple with a violation regarding missing safety warnings on AirTags — here’s how Apple’s fixing the problem.
On Thursday, the Office of Compliance and Field Operations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Notice of Violation to Apple after it noticed some AirTags were missing appropriate button cell battery warnings.
According to a press release by the CPSC, Apple had previously met the performance requirements for securing the AirTag’s lithium coin cell battery. However, those imported after March 19, 2024 not feature required on-product and on-box warnings. This date is significant as it is the date that Reese’s Law, a law that mandates safety standards for button and coin-cell batteries.
Fortunately, Apple has already corrected the problem. AirTags now include a warning symbol inside the compartment and all required on-box warnings and symbols.
Apple has also updated the instructions that appear in the Find My app each time a user is prompted to change the AirTag battery to now include a warning about the hazards of button and coin cell batteries.
Button cell batteries, like the CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery used in the Apple AirTag, can cause severe esophageal burns if swallowed. And, according to the National Safety Council, more than 3,500 people of all ages swallow button batteries every year in the United States.
And it’s not just kids you need to worry about. As it turns out, most veterinarians recommend against putting an AirTag on your dog’s collar, too.
In 2021, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began urging parents to keep AirTags out of the reach of young children, concerned the tiny item tracker could pose a choking risk.
