CPSC Takes to China to Prevent Product Recalls

By Mike Rozembajgier

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this month took a long-promised, proactive step on the road to increasing its global reach by opening its first overseas bureau in Beijing. The new office represents a major step forward in the agency’s attempts to curb the number of product recalls, strengthen recall standards, and ensure that American regulations are enforced at overseas production facilities. The opening of the office highlights the agency’s dedication to ensuring that products sold in the United States, no matter where they are originally manufactured, are safe for consumer use.

According to a recent BBC News story, “45 percent of the consumer products and 90 percent of all the toys sold in the United States come from China and Hong Kong, and slightly more than half of all product recalls come from China.”  Recalls of Chinese products actually decreased slightly, from 230 in 2009 to 220 in 2010. But concerns remain regarding China’s continued use of lead and cadmium, poorly designed toys that could present choking hazards, and the manufacture of counterfeit electronic products.

China has long been suspected to be one of the most flagrant violators of CPSC regulations, and the agency’s choice for the first overseas location serves to underscore that concern. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum admitted to BBC News that enforcement in the Chinese provinces was still a challenge, but that the agency has noticed an improvement in the quality of Chinese-made products.

Now is a good time for your company to examine your Asian-based manufacturing and distribution centers. Visit the plants in person to make sure that all policies, procedures and safety measures are being followed to the letter. Companies that deal with manufacturing facilities in China should check to make sure their warehouses are compliant. One wrong move by your operations team in China could force you to execute a recall in the United States. While the CPSC has always watched for violations in the region, its new on-ground presence will make their job of regulating your operations abroad a lot easier.

While the exact priorities and parameters of the Beijing office are still unclear, it is critical that you plan for increased regulatory oversight. As part of this process, manufacturers should begin to review and update their recall plans and procedures to make sure that if the CPSC uncovers a safety issue in a Chinese product, your team is ready to manage the recall.