Stratton pursues international agenda; signs agreement with government of China

Chairman Hal Stratton became the first chairman of the U Consumer crops 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 the pair the U.S. and China. (1)

upon April 21, Stratton formally signed the MOU with Chinese Minister Li Changjiang at a rite at the Department of Commerce

"The signing of this agreement with the regulation of the People's Republic of China will facilitate a cooperative relationship, individual in which we hope to work together to bring deaths and injuries to children and consumer the couple 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 safety standards, one as well as the other mandatory and voluntary.

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

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

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

individual of Stratton's top aides, Joe Mohorovic, has been working the international beat for CPSC for more [i]or[/i] less 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 stores to Launch National Resale Roundup

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

CPSC Chairman Stratton said the effort would focus upon helping identify previously recalled or banned outcomes from thrift shops or consignment store shelves. It will also help consumer avoid purchasing like 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 stores (NARTS) on the project.

productions that have caused problems newly are old cribs that do not suitable current regulations, and old cedar chests that do not have a mechanism to thwart suffocation of children.

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

Consumer can contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or visit wwwcpscgov to obtain more information about the resale shoot forward A new publication called "Dangerous and Recalled produces Reference Guide" can be ordered at liberty 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 cropss with the potential to harm children are still in dwellings around the country.

Neighborhood Safety Network Spreads CPSC Safety Data

Another of recent origin project initiated by Stratton not long ago is the Neighborhood Safety Network. Because CPSC knows that many American consumer fail to hear about recalls and other safety messages, this of recent origin project enlists the cooperation of community assemblages that can help distribute bills new publications, recall announcements, and other safety information to consumer who may have missed newspaper or broadcast announcements through CPSC.

Groups that wish to participate can sign up by the agency of going to CPSC's website, wwwcpscgov/nsnhtml

Agency Plans Regional Meetings upon Child Drownings

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

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

The Commission will invite consumer public officials and industry to attend meetings to obtain information upon the problem and develop recommendations upon how to address it. individual new initiative in 2004 is the unfolding of engineering parameters that can help find ways to hold fast young children from gaining access to backyard pools