Pursuing Product Safety in China
10-20-2009
By David Schmeltzer
“Made in China” in many cases is equivalent to “Buyer Beware” as more and more consumers apply caution when purchasing consumer products imported from China. Just recently, the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press reported on lawsuits against national brand toy retailers as a result of defective toys made in China.
Then, this week, Chairman Tenenbaum addressed attendees at the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers’ 2009 Product Safety & Liability Conference, explaining that the Chinese government is working closely with the CPSC to police noncompliant products being sold in the United States.
Beginning October 21, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum will lead a delegation of CPSC representatives to China for the 3rd Biennial United States – China Consumer Product Safety Summit. The Summit – which will bring together the CPSC and its counterpart agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) – aims to build upon the activities undertaken by the agencies since the last Summit in 2007.
The Summit of 2007 focused on the importance of manufacturers adhering to voluntary product safety standards, meeting the requirements set forth by the United States; as well as an information exchange process on recalls and product safety matters.
With new legislation in the Senate that would extend U.S. regulations to foreign manufacturers, the Summit of 2009 will likely take product safety discussions a step further.
The joint efforts of the CPSC and the AQSIQ will undoubtedly focus on helping to assure that consumer products meet voluntary and CPSC standards and do not present an unreasonable risk of injury.
This effort, along with the Commission joining forces with the U.S Customs and Border Patrol to prevent non complying consumer products from entering the U.S. should dramatically reduce the number of dangerous consumer products from entering this country.
However, importers and retailers must still remain vigilant in order to assure products they sold are not the cause, or the potential cause, of injuries. They are required by law to report to the agency information that could create a substantial product hazard. It is more important than ever to make sure that hazardous products are not in the hands of the public and are recalled as effectively as possible.
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[...] Additionally, according to the CPSC, the Chinese government is working closely with the Commission to police noncompliant products. The groups in the past have stressed the importance of having Chinese manufacturers take safety responsibility more seriously and making product testing more rigorous. We can expect these discussions to continue to move forward this week during the CPSC delegation’s visit to China. [...]
[...] with a new way of thinking. In fact, the agency opened its first overseas office in Beijing to help manage product safety internationally. The agency has also been granted new powers over product safety, including recalls, and has [...]
I find this very interesting, And alarming!. I have a baby, and allot of
baby toys made in China, It would be nice if you had pitchers and brand
names that had laid. I leave in Canada, I wounder if Canada has powers
over product safety, in China.Including recalls. And what the standards
are. I`m going to investigate this matter.Like i said very interesting!