CPSC, Customs Renew Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- U.S. Commissioner of Customs Carol Hallett and Jacqueline Jones-Smith, Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with Vice Chairman Carol Dawson and Commissioner Anne Graham, today reaffirmed the agreement between Customs and the CPSC that has led to the seizure of millions of dollars worth of dangerous consumer goods during the past several years.

The two agencies began working together in 1987 to prevent the importation of goods that fail to meet the CPSC standards for safety. CPSC had determined in 1987 that 66 percent of all imported toys fail the safety test. To date, the violation rate for toys has been reduced to approximately 50 percent. The Customs Service makes seizures of these imports for the CPSC. About the toys, Commissioner Hallett has said, "...nothing is more important when the health or safety of a child may be at stake."

Customs seized nearly $21.6 million worth of non-complying consumer products between October 1988 and December 1989, including almost $9.3 million worth of potentially hazardous toys and bicycles. Other seized products included fireworks and sleepwear.

Chairman Jones-Smith said, "Before this cooperative program with Customs, the Commission relied heavily on inspections of manufacturers, distributers and retailers to identify potentially hazardous products. Through our joint efforts with Customs, we have seized millions of hazardous products at ports of entry, before they can reach retail shelves."

In referring to Customs work with the CPSC, Commissioner Hallett said, "Government becomes more effective when its agencies combine to enforce the law. This has been doubly true of our association with the Consumer Product Safety Commission."

Today's meeting reaffirms the excellent cooperation between the two agencies which has led to increased seizures of dangerous products and updates the existing Memorandum of Understanding with the signatures of U.S. Customs Commissioner Hallett and CPSC Chairman Jones-Smith, Vice Chairman Carol Dawson and Commissioner Anne Graham.

Contact, U.S. Customs Service: Ed Kittredge, (202) 566-5286. Contact, CPSC: Dan Rumelt (301) 492-6580