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Consumer Q's for June 28, 2007

Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645

1-800-282-5852 

CONSUMER Q’s

Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

Consumer Recall:  Gateway Inc. Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  Name of Product: Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs; Units:  About 14,000; Battery Distributor:  Gateway Inc., of Irvine, Calif.  Hazard:   These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers.  This is not an internal battery cell defect.  Incidents/Injuries:  Gateway has received four reports of battery packs overheating, including minor property damage.  No injuries have been reported.  Description:  The recalled battery packs were shipped as the primary or spare battery pack for some Gateway 400VTX and 450ROG series notebooks, and are identified by part numbers:  6500760 or 6500761.  The part number and “made by SMP” are printed on a label on the underside of the battery pack.  Sold through:   Gateway’s professional and direct distributors and Gateway Country stores nationwide from May 2003 through August 2003.  The computers with these batteries sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $90.  Manufactured in:  China; Remedy:  Consumers should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Gateway to receive a replacement battery.  Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, removing the battery pack, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.  Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Gateway at (800) 292-6813 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT seven days a week or visit the company’s Web site at www.gateway.com/battery

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Safety Tips for Traveling with your dog.

Before you hit the road, prepare your dog for the drive ahead.  Advance planning can help make traveling less stressful for pets.  If your dog is not used to long road trips, spending some time with you in the car when it is motionless may help your dog feel less anxious.  Bringing familiar dog food, drinking water, and toys also may help your dog feel more comfortable.

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I am interested in starting an animal rescue group or shelter. What must I do in order to be licensed?

The first step is to check the local zoning requirements.  If there are no restrictions for this type of establishment, please contact the Secretary of State’s Office to apply for non-profit status.  Their information number is 404-656-3920.  After you have received this
designation or if you have any further questions, please contact our office at 404-656-4914 to provide your name and contact information.  This information will be given to the
inspector to schedule a pre-license inspection.  To facilitate your compliance, you should review and become familiar with the Animal Protection Act and Animal Protection Rules and
Regulations BEFORE your inspection.  The inspector will bring the license application and collect the fee amount, per established guidelines in the Animal Protection Rules and Regulations, at the time of inspection.

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Is your used crib safe?

Before you put your baby to sleep in a used crib, check to be sure it's safe.  A safe crib has

A firm, tight-fitting mattress

No loose, missing, or broken hardware or slats

No more than 2 3/8" between the slats (about the width of a soda can)

No corner posts over 1/16" high

No cutout designs in the headboard or footboard

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Ever wonder how the word ‘agribusiness’ came to be?

In 1955, John H. Davis of Harvard School of Business, discovered there was no term to describe the interdependency between agriculture and business, so he coined the term ‘agribusiness.’  “Agribusiness is a concept of economics which includes the sum total of all operations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of farm supplies; production operation on the farm; and the storage, processing and distribution of farm commodities and items made from them.”  (Source: Davis, John H. & Goldberg, Ray A. (1957).  A Concept of Agribusiness, Boston, School of Business Administration, Harvard University.)

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I’ve participated in the Georgia lottery but what about foreign lotteries?

What should you know about foreign lotteries:  They’re illegal.  Federal law prohibits the cross-border sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail.  They’re losing propositions.  Foreign lottery scam artists will drain your bank account or steal the money you sent to pay for the tickets, duties, and taxes.

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If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or 404/656-3645 (metro Atlanta) or 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).