Consumer Product Safety Commission Lydie Van Deursen
Consumer Safety Product Commission
By Lydie van Deursen
In 1972, congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act and established the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In order to check the safety of consumer goods that are put on the US market. Goods that do not meet US safety standards are confiscated and destroyed.i The CPSC is an Independent Federal Administrative Agency, but while it is an independent federal agency, it does not have control over all consumers’ products. Different departments set the safety standards for certain kind of products; for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which has the ability to set standards for drugs and cosmetics. The U.S. Department of the Treasury establishes certain criteria for tobacco and alcohol. Another example is the U.S. Department of transportation, which monitors vehicles.ii Nevertheless, the CPSC is the largest of these federal agencies and has control over roughly 15,000 consumer products.iii
The CPSC reports to congress from several different locations in the country, where it regulates consumer products. The headquarters is located in Bethesda, Maryland, and is supported by regional and field offices all over the country. The CPSC has five council members appointed by the president who represent the current commission council of the CPSC. Elliot F. Kay, Robert (Bob) S. Adler (Vice-Chairman), Ann Marie Buerkle, Joseph P. Mohorovic, and Marietta S. Robinson form the advisory council and are in charge of regulating the commissions policies. In the summer of 2014, president Barack Obama nominated Elliot F. Kaye to serve as the 10th administrative chairman, the executive officer of the CPSC, which was approved by the U.S. Senate.iv The commission has the capability to create standards for products. Under the Chairman Elliot F. Kaye there are six main offices: Office of Communications who regulates press releases and social media; Office of Legislative Affairs provides Congress with information about
By Lydie van Deursen
In 1972, congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act and established the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In order to check the safety of consumer goods that are put on the US market. Goods that do not meet US safety standards are confiscated and destroyed.i The CPSC is an Independent Federal Administrative Agency, but while it is an independent federal agency, it does not have control over all consumers’ products. Different departments set the safety standards for certain kind of products; for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which has the ability to set standards for drugs and cosmetics. The U.S. Department of the Treasury establishes certain criteria for tobacco and alcohol. Another example is the U.S. Department of transportation, which monitors vehicles.ii Nevertheless, the CPSC is the largest of these federal agencies and has control over roughly 15,000 consumer products.iii
The CPSC reports to congress from several different locations in the country, where it regulates consumer products. The headquarters is located in Bethesda, Maryland, and is supported by regional and field offices all over the country. The CPSC has five council members appointed by the president who represent the current commission council of the CPSC. Elliot F. Kay, Robert (Bob) S. Adler (Vice-Chairman), Ann Marie Buerkle, Joseph P. Mohorovic, and Marietta S. Robinson form the advisory council and are in charge of regulating the commissions policies. In the summer of 2014, president Barack Obama nominated Elliot F. Kaye to serve as the 10th administrative chairman, the executive officer of the CPSC, which was approved by the U.S. Senate.iv The commission has the capability to create standards for products. Under the Chairman Elliot F. Kaye there are six main offices: Office of Communications who regulates press releases and social media; Office of Legislative Affairs provides Congress with information about
Cited: “2011-2016 US Consumer Product Safety Commission Strategic Plan” cpsc.gov. N.P., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. Abrams, Rachel. "Consumer Product Safety Commission Warns About Danger to Children From Unsecured TVs." The New York Times 2015: NA. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. "Challenges And Options For Responding To New And Emerging Risks." GAO Reports (2014): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. "Consumer Product Safety Commission." United States Government Manual (2009): 358. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. "Consumer Product Safety Commission Is Back on Track." Manufacturingnews.com. N.p., 12 Jan. 2000. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. "Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)." Inc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. ElBoghdady, Dina. "CPSC Database Faces First Legal Challenge." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC.gov. n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.