Consumer safety agency to add staff

January 08, 2008|Associated Press

WASHINGTON - After an unprecedented year of toy recalls, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is adding staff at the nation's busiest ports and pledging to work more closely with US Customs to stop suspect imports and identify potential hazards before toys hit the market.

Addressing the National Press Club yesterday, acting CPSC chief Nancy Nord defended her safety record but said she stood ready to embrace major reform at the embattled agency. Congress provided the CPSC with an additional $20 million for the current fiscal year, but has stalled on legislation that would significantly strengthen its regulatory powers.

Under the new initiatives, CPSC will begin to place full-time staff at some of the busiest US ports, such as Seattle. CPSC is being given access to real-time information and data from Customs officials about US-bound shipments so that CPSC staff can pinpoint high-risk products.

CPSC also plans to boost port inspection of toys, fireworks, electrical products, and other goods considered potentially high-risk, and will conduct a study of specific imports to help determine safety compliance.

"Toys are safer," said Nord, contending that for every time there may be a safety problem, there are hundreds of inspections done right.