CPSC Posts its 2008 Performance and Accountability Report

CPSC Focused on Safety of Imports

CPSC states that many of the consumer products the U.S. uses are no longer manufactured in the U.S. and notes that imported products increased by 217% from 1997 to 2007.

According to CPSC, the value of U.S. imports from all countries of consumer products under its jurisdiction was $639 billion in 2007, with imports from China valued at $269 billion, comprising about 42% of all consumer products imported into the U.S. CPSC also notes that about 85% of U.S. product recalls are of imported products, and the large majority of those products are manufactured in China.

The overwhelming number of imports means that CPSC focused (and will continue to focus) much of its resources on import safety. CPSC notes that in 2008 it expanded on its Import Safety Initiative established last year based on three key principles:

assure product safety is built into the manufacturing and distribution processes;

increase enforcement at the border; and

enhance surveillance to remove unsafe products from store shelves.

2008 CPSC Accomplishments

CPSC states that it met or exceeded most of its 2008 performance plan goals, including (partial list):

Creation of import surveillance division. In early 2008, CPSC established its Import Surveillance Division, the first permanent, full-time presence of CPSC personnel at key U.S. ports of entry. These personnel are specifically trained in import surveillance procedures and the rapid identification of defective and non-complying consumer products. They are using X-ray fluorescence technology to screen for lead and other heavy metals in consumer products, testing more samples of products and conducting more port-of-entry "blitzes" where appropriate.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/07/08 news, 08030705, for BP summary of the creation of the import surveillance team.)

CPSC states that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is providing enhanced access to its data systems providing CPSC staff the capability to identify track and prevent hazardous products from entering the U.S. The CPSC is also upgrading to a new state-of-the-art laboratory facility to improve efficiency and capacity to test suspect products and to support the development of mandatory and consensus standards.

Expanded China program. CPSC continued its dialogue with the Chinese government through cooperative work on toys, lighters, electrical products and fireworks; and technical experts are sharing information on best practices in those areas. Officials from CPSC and its Chinese counterpart agency, the General Administration for Quality, Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) now hold monthly meetings to review recalls and safety issues. The CPSC and the European Union (EU) also conducted the "Joint U.S.-EU China Initiative on Consumer Product Safety Compliance" in China in September of 2008 to speak with a unified voice on product safety. (CPSC notes that in 2008, it recalled a record number of hazardous imported products from China, including toys and children's jewelry.)

(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/20/08 news, 08112020, for BP summary of the U.S., EU, China summit on product safety.)

CPSIA implementation. CPSC began implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) by planning rulemaking, enforcement, and other safety standard activities. CPSC launched a public education program on the new CPSIA, which included public meetings and created a CPSIA Web site. In addition, CPSC consolidated the legal staff of its Office of Compliance with the Office of the General Counsel to achieve an integrated legal team to meet the significant rulemaking and enforcement activity required by the new legislation.

(See ITT's Online Archives for over 40 summaries on CPSIA's provisions, with links to the CPSC Web site on the CPSIA.)

Early warning system. CPSC continued the Early Warning System (EWS) initiative which is designed to identify emerging product safety hazard patterns more quickly and effectively. The EWS is focusing on cribs, bassinets, and play yards (playpens). Work on the EWS contributed to three recalls involving more than 780,000 cribs.

Voluntary recalls. CPSC obtained 563 voluntary recalls, the most in the last ten years. These recalls involved about 60.8 million product units. In addition, CPSC obtained $3.675 million in civil penalties for failure to report possible product hazards in a timely manner and for selling banned fireworks.

Public communication. CPSC alerted the public to hazardous products through 529 press releases and recall alerts, 5 million electronically-distributed publications, and through CPSC's Web site, hotline, and National Injury Information Clearinghouse.

Voluntary standards. In 2008, CPSC supported the development or revision of 58 voluntary standards. (See p. 66 of the report for list of affected products.)

CPSC 2008 Performance and Accountability Report, which includes a financial report (dated November 2008) available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/reports/2008par.pdf