NEWS from CPSC

CPSC Signs Cooperative Agreement with Japan to Improve Consumer Product Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the signing of Guidelines for Information Exchange and Administrative Cooperation with the Japanese government to improve the safety of consumer products in the U.S. and Japan.

CPSC's Acting Chairman Nancy Nord and President Makoto Misono of National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) signed the agreement at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) conference in Brussels, Belgium. The agreement had been previously signed by Director-General Midori Tani, Consumer Affairs, of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

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 under this agreement, both agencies will be able to identify dangerous products faster, and prevent them from being distributed," said Chairman Nord. "This agreement will help to prevent injuries and save lives in both countries."

"This cooperative agreement with the United States will help protect consumers around the world," said METI Director-General Tani.

NITE President Misono said, "We look forward to an exchange of information and officials between both countries on consumer product safety issues."

Japan is a major trading partner with the United States. It ranks fourth in imports of consumer products into the U.S. According to the International Trade Commission, $40 billion of products under CPSC's jurisdiction came from Japan in 2005.

CPSC also has signed agreements with other countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, the European Commission, India, Israel, Mexico and the Republic of Korea, to improve the safety of consumer products.