Communications Daily is a service of Warren Communications News.

CPSC Announces U.S.-China Consumer Product Safety Summit

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted information on participating in the third biennial U.S.-China Consumer Product Safety Summit to take place October 21-26, 2009 in China.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!

The summit involves CPSC, its counterpart agency in China (the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, (AQSIQ)), and interested stakeholders.

(The last summit between CPSC and AQSIQ took place in 2007 and focused on ensuring that manufacturers understood the necessity of meeting both voluntary standards and U.S. requirements (particularly ending the use of leaded paint on toys), information exchanges on recalls and other pressing product safety matters, and training Chinese government officials and manufacturers on new CPSC requirements.)

Stakeholders May Accompany CPSC Delegation, Attend Public Sessions

Stakeholders selected by CPSC may accompany the CPSC delegation or participate in the parts of the summit open to the general public, including:

Panel discussions/audience interactive sessions

Site visits

Other activities as announced

2009 Summit to Discuss Comprehensive, Systematic Approach to Product Safety

The goal of the 2009 Summit is to bring the dialogue to a new level, emphasizing the need for commitment to a more comprehensive approach to product safety.

With input from U.S. and Chinese stakeholders, CPSC and AQSIQ will identify and discuss measures to ensure that U.S. importers and Chinese suppliers establish a comprehensive and systemic approach to preventing and detecting safety hazards in consumer products, from product design, through manufacturing, and to the ultimate use of the product by the consumer.

Toward that end, the Summit agenda will include an examination of lessons learned over the past two years, as well as a discussion of new regulatory and voluntary tools that can be used to ensure continued progress.

Specific Topics to Include Toy Safety, Lead, ATVs, Lighters, Fireworks

In addition to overarching policy discussions, the Summit agenda will include discussions of specific product safety issues. According to CPSC, toys, lead in children's products, all terrain vehicles, lighters, and fireworks are all product areas where systemic progress may be made.

(CPSC press release available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/chinasummit.aspx)