CPSC Says Proactive Approach at Ports Means More Exams, Refused Entry
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that its stepped up efforts to be more proactive have resulted in hundreds of millions of violative or dangerous products being stopped at U.S. ports and prevented from ever reaching the hands of consumers. CPSC notes that about 1,700 different children's products were stopped at U.S. ports in 2010 and 2011, and that non-children’s products are also being targeted.
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Change due to Increase of CPSC Staff at Ports, Better Collaboration with CBP
Imported products have long been screened at the port by CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, since its creation in 2008, CPSC's import surveillance and inspection team, has steadily increased the size of its staff at some of the largest U.S. ports of entry, at CPSC's headquarters and at a CBP operations center.
According to CPSC’s Director of the Office of Import Surveillance and Inspection, "Having CPSC staff who have the training and equipment necessary to identify non-complying products under CPSC jurisdiction at the ports has improved coordination and cooperation with CBP and industry."
1,700 Kid’s Products Stopped at U.S. Ports in 2010-2011 for Safety Concerns
Working with CBP, CPSC staff screened thousands of consumer products that were either in violation of U.S. standards or otherwise unsafe and stopped them from ever reaching store shelves. This collaboration in 2010 and 2011 resulted in more than 6.5 million units of about 1,700 different children's products being stopped at U.S. nation's ports, due to safety concerns or the failure to meet federal safety standards.
Some of the reasons they were stopped include violations of the standards for lead paint and lead content, phthalates and small parts.
Also Targeted Were Mattresses, Bike Helmets, Household Chemicals, Etc.
According to CPSC, the products stopped are wide-ranging. In addition to toys and other children's products, items targeted at import include mattresses, art materials, household chemicals, lighters, fireworks, bike helmets and all-terrain vehicles.
(CBP has also issued a report on its fiscal year 2011 seizure statistics regarding intellectual property rights. CPSC and CBP have previously noted that in addition to safety concerns, they also look for counterfeit Underwriter Laboratories, Inc. (UL) or other markings, falsely indicating that the products meet CPSC safety standards. See ITT’s Online Archives 12011012 for summary of CBP’s report on IPR seizures.)
(Press release dated 01/09/12)