Welcome to CPSC’s Podcast for Friday, September 14, 2007. I’m Patty Davis.

[Patty:] This week, CPSC announced an agreement with China to improve the safety of imported toys and other consumer products. China’s product safety agency has agreed to take immediate action to eliminate the use of lead paint on Chinese-manufactured toys that are exported to the U.S. The agreement was announced during a U.S.-China Summit here in Washington.

Joining me to talk about the summit is CPSC’s Director of Public Affairs Julie Vallese. Thanks Julie.

[Julie:] Great to be here.

[Patty:] How significant is this agreement?

[Julie:] It is significant. It has brought the Chinese to the table. It shows that they understand there are safety standards that need to be followed here in the United States. And this is a commitment from them that they are going to manufacture towards those standards.

[Patty:] What will this mean for the safety of toys imported into the United States from China?

[Julie:] Well, in short, it means that they are going to be safer. Um, but it doesn’t take away the responsibility of others. This means that China will be watching. They will be testing. And they will be making sure that their manufacturers are making products to the specifications that U.S. companies have provided towards safety standards.

[Patty:] Now lead paint has been banned in the United States since 1978. Lead is particularly harmful to young children right?

[Julie:] Yes. It’s been banned here in the U.S. since 1978, but that’s not the case around the world including China. That’s one reason why we did see it come in to the U.S. this summer. But exposure to lead in paint can lead to behavior problems, growth retardation, and other health problems for young children. That’s why it was banned and that’s why we enforce that ban.

[Patty:] There was another part of the agreement covering other consumer products. Tell us more about that?

[Julie:] The CPSC had actually identified four work groups that they would be working towards with the Chinese, toys being one of them and we made major strides. But also fireworks, cigarette lighters, and electrical products. What this summit and what these agreements mean is there is now a roadmap, something to work towards so that China understands much better exactly what they need to do to help manufacture safer products, and how often the two agencies will be working together to ensure that products are being manufactured safely.

[Patty:] Thanks Julie. You can find out more about the U.S.-China Summit on our Web site, www.cpsc.gov. While you’re there, take a look at the recalls we’ve announced recently and see if you have any of them in your home.

You can also sign up to receive our recall alerts directly into your email box. That’s it for this week’s podcast. Thanks for listening.

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