Stratton pursues international agenda; signs agreement with government of China

CPSC Monitor, April, 2004

Chairman Hal Stratton became the first chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to visit China. In March, he went to Beijing to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding an agreement for better consumer protection in both the U.S. and China. (1)

On April 21, Stratton formally signed the MOU with Chinese Minister Li Changjiang at a ceremony at the Department of Commerce.

"The signing of this agreement with the government of the People's Republic of China will facilitate a cooperative relationship, one in which we hope to work together to reduce deaths and injuries to children and consumers both in the United States and in China," Stratton said.

The agreement will facilitate the exchange of technical and regulatory information, and includes the training of Chinese laboratory and inspection personnel.

Stratton said the agreement's goal is to educate Chinese officials, manufacturers and importers about compliance with U.S. safety standards, both mandatory and voluntary.

Stratton will return to China in June to attend the International Organization of Standardization conference on toy safety standards and to continue meetings with Chinese officials.

In the past, Stratton has traveled to Mexico and to Central America on similar safety missions. Stratton commented to the Monitor:

"In an era of vast expansion of international trade, it is critical that the Consumer Product Safety Commission work closely with other nations and governing bodies to cooperate on key product safety standards and regulations. To that end, I will be traveling to China, Costa Rica, Barcelona, Brussels and possibly London this year."

One of Stratton's top aides, Joe Mohorovic, has been working the international beat for CPSC for some time. Recently, Mohorovic was named the Director of the Office of International Programs and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Stratton told the Monitor:

"Joe will help the agency establish a more comprehensive and coordinated approach in addressing the multi-lateral trade agreements that drive our global economy."

CPSC Teams with Safe Kids, Danny Foundation, and Association of Resale and Thrift Shops to Launch National Resale Roundup

This month CPSC focused on "Resale Roundup 2004," a team effort to help prevent the sale of hazardous products in thrift shops or at yard sales.

CPSC Chairman Stratton said the effort would focus on helping identify previously recalled or banned products from thrift shops or consignment store shelves. It will also help consumers avoid purchasing such products at yard sales or second-hand stores.

CPSC is cooperating with the National Safe Kids Campaign (Safe Kids), the Danny Foundation, and the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops (NARTS) on the project.

Products that have caused problems recently are old cribs that do not meet current regulations, and old cedar chests that do not have a mechanism to prevent suffocation of children.

CPSC will help officials from NARTS and Safe Kids host seminars to educate thrift store staff about dangerous recalled products that could find their way onto secondhand store shelves.

Consumers can contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov to get more information about the resale project. A new publication called "Dangerous and Recalled Products Reference Guide" can be ordered free or downloaded directly from the Internet.

Chairman Stratton said he believes the program is important since, in spite of recall notices and public warnings, many dangerous products with the potential to harm children are still in homes around the country.

Neighborhood Safety Network Spreads CPSC Safety Data

Another new project initiated by Stratton recently is the Neighborhood Safety Network. Because CPSC knows that many American consumers fail to hear about recalls and other safety messages, this new project enlists the cooperation of community groups that can help distribute posters, new publications, recall announcements, and other safety information to consumers who may have missed newspaper or broadcast announcements by CPSC.

Groups that wish to participate can sign up by going to CPSC's website, www.cpsc.gov/nsn.html.> Agency Plans Regional Meetings on Child Drownings

As reported in the last issue of CPSC Monitor, the Commission has set three new strategic goals for the agency in 2004, one of them is reducing the number of childhood drownings. Drowning is still one the leading causes of accidental death for children under 5.

The first meeting will be held on June 21st in Tampa, Florida at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. A similar meeting will be held in Phoenix, Arizona several weeks later.

The Commission will invite consumers, public officials and industry to attend meetings to obtain information on the problem and develop recommendations on how to address it. One new initiative in 2004 is the development of engineering parameters that can help find ways to keep young children from gaining access to backyard pools.

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