Matsushita has announced the recall of 6,000 notebook PC batteries from portable devices baring the Panasonic brand due to fire hazards, but has failed to disclose the maker of the products. This move promoted a wave of criticism from the Japanese consumer rights institutions, but the world's largest consumer-electronics maker has not shifted from its initial position. Additionally, Matsushita has not revealed the financial details associated to the recall and stated it isn't in its future plans to do so. The sole concession made by the company in this regard was to deny that the batteries' maker was Panasonic or Sony Corp.

The move comes in the wake of the announcements made by Dell and Apple that they would order the recall of 4.1 million, respectively 1.4 million notebook computer batteries made by Sony following fire hazard issues affecting overheating products.

Matsushita revealed that the fire hazard impacts only damaged power packs and that undamaged batteries would function under normal continuations. The company explained that the malfunctions which would conduct to overheating are the sole result of impact damages.