| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2006 Release #06-087 |
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea's government to improve the safety of consumer products exported to the U.S from South Korea.
CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton and Seung Sin Lee, President of the Korean Consumer Protection Board, signed the agreement.
The agreement calls for an exchange of information between the two countries on consumer product safety issues, the development of training programs dealing with consumer product safety, and an exchange of safety professionals to carry out consumer safety programs.
"Working together under this agreement will help both agencies identify dangerous products faster," said Stratton. "This agreement lays the groundwork for improving safety, which will help to prevent injuries and save lives in both countries."
"Safety is an important part of the mission of the Consumer Protection Board," said Lee. "We feel the consumer has the right to be protected from any danger posed from products. This collaborative agreement is evidence of our commitment to safety."
South Korea is an important trading partner with the United States. It ranks fifth in imports of consumer products into the U.S. According to the International Trade Commission, $20.1 billion of products under CPSC's jurisdiction came from South Korea in 2004, an increase of 128 percent since 1997.
CPSC also has signed agreements with Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, the European Commission, India, Israel, Mexico and Taiwan to improve the safety of consumer products.