CPSC Staff Issues Draft Plan to Improve Safety of Certain Consumer Products Imported from China
The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff (CPSC) has developed a draft plan entitled International Consumer Product Safety Program Plan - China (draft plan) to improve the safety of the following consumer products imported from China and Hong Kong (China): clothing, textiles, and toys; hazardous products such as cigarette and multipurpose lighters; home appliances; hazardous chemical consumer products; and bicycle helmets.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
(CPSC notes that the draft plan has been prepared by CPSC staff, but has not been reviewed or approved by, and may not reflect the views of, the CPSC.)
CPSC states that this draft plan is being broadly distributed for review and comment. According to CPSC sources, comments should be submitted as soon as possible to pbittner@cpsc.gov. The draft plan will be modified based on an evaluation of the comments received, consultations with counterparts in the Chinese government, and experience gained after implementing appropriate suggestions.
China is Largest Foreign Source of CPSC-Directed Recalls and Port Seizures
According to the CPSC, China is the largest source of consumer products imported into the U.S., representing over one-third of total U.S. consumer product imports in 2004. CPSC states that China is also the largest foreign source for CPSC-directed product recalls and port seizures.
CPSC states that average annual recalls of fireworks, cigarette lighters, multi-purpose lighters, candles, and fans produced in China each represent more than 50% of all recalls for these products, including those domestically produced. Average annual recalls for toys produced in China represent more than 40% of all recalls of those products, including those domestically produced.
(See draft plan for further recall and seizure data.)
Proposed Activities to Improve Safety of Consumer Products from China
In order to improve the safety of consumer products imported from China, the CPSC has proposed ten specific activities to help identify and improve products that do not meet U.S. safety standards. These proposed activities include (partial list):
Pilot compliance program. The CPSC plans to seek Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) staff participation in a pilot project to monitor the use of U.S. voluntary and mandatory standards by Chinese manufacturers for three to five specific types of consumer products destined for the U.S. (e.g., electrical household appliances, toys, and fireworks). According to CPSC, the goal is to obtain experience that can be used later to evaluate the effectiveness of China's conformity assessment program for consumer products being imported into the U.S.
Testing and certification program. The CPSC plans to work with Chinese government officials to analyze the testing and certification methodology of Chinese consumer products destined for the U.S., and expects to provide recommendations to ensure greater compliance to safety standards essential for distribution in the U.S. market.
China-U.S. comparative standards study. The CPSC plans to identify and compare the Chinese and U.S. product standards applicable to imported consumer products that have been recalled and/or seized. The results from this study will help determine differences between U.S. and Chinese standards and what might be done to address those differences.
According to the CPSC, it is anticipated that products such as electrical products, fireworks, cigarette lighters, toys, mattresses, and upholstered furniture will be among those with highest priority for further study.
Complying with U.S. mandatory and voluntary standards. The CPSC plans to stress to appropriate Chinese government officials, manufacturers, trade associations, and importers the need to comply with both mandatory rules and U.S. national consensus voluntary safety standards.
Working with other U.S. agencies. The CPSC is currently or plans to work with the following U.S. government entities, among others, to improve the safety of consumer products from China: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), International Trade Administration (ITA), China Standards Attach in Beijing, U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and the State Department.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/26/04 news, 04042630, for BP summary of the CPSC and China's AQSIQ April 21, 2004 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the safety of certain imported consumer products.)
Draft plan (dated 05/25/05) available at http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/china.pdf