The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched a new Import Surveillance Division (ISD) and stationed its first inspectors at the Port of Long Beach. Additional staff will be assigned to other busy ports as the division is expanded, the agency said.
The ISD, in coordination with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, is tasked with inspecting, detecting, and stopping hazardous products from entering into the United States. Inspectors will be able to place a hold on any shipments deemed hazardous, according to Nancy Nord, the commission's acting chairperson. Previously, inspectors and customs agents checked goods only on a case-by-case basis at the nation's ports.
"With new strategies and growing resources, I am confident that we can prevent the entry of unsafe products into our country, remove those that do find a way in and punish those who willfully disregard the safety of our consumers," said Acting Chairman Nord. Working with Customs, CPSC is utilizing the CBP's import tracking system known as ACE. ACE will expose CPSC to many potential problems sooner, and give the agency more time and information to respond before the dangerous product reaches U.S. shores.
http://www.cpsc.gov