Consumer Product Safety

The oversight of consumer product safety is a complex system involving many federal agencies. The United States Government Accountability Office identified eight agencies that have direct oversight responsibilities for consumer product safety: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard (within the Department of Homeland Security). All eight agencies conduct regulatory activities to promote consumer product safety, such as rulemaking, standard setting, risk assessment, enforcement, and product recalls. This book examines which federal agencies oversee consumer product safety and their roles and responsibilities; the extent and effects of any fragmentation or overlap in the oversight of consumer products; and collaboration among agencies to address any negative effects of fragmentation or overlap. This book also discusses the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.