CPSC Signs Co-op Safety Deal with Europeans

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission (EC) have entered into an information sharing agreement at a ceremony hosted by the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) during its annual meeting and training symposium in Orlando, Fla. this week.

CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton and Director General Robert Madelin from the EC signed letters of commitment to implement mutually agreed guidelines to strengthen communication between both entities, and to improve consumer health and safety protection in the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU).

The agreement also addresses the need for enhanced regulatory cooperation on consumer product safety issues highlighted as an important element in the Roadmap for U.S.-EU Regulatory Cooperation announced at a June 2004 US/EU Summit.

“European and American product markets share similarities and problems; the product safety concerns of our citizens are, to a large extent, comparable. These guidelines strengthen the ties between our two organizations while providing the framework and impetus for improving our respective consumer health and safety programs,” said Stratton. “The exchange of scientific, technical, and regulatory information will benefit consumers on both continents.”

The cooperative safety agreement with the EC is one of several that CPSC has negotiated in recent months with representatives of foreign governments. CPSC also has formal working relationships with Canadian, Chinese, Taiwanese and Costa Rican authorities. CPSC is negotiating Memoranda of Understanding with Mexico, India and Chile.

The goal of these agreements is to heighten awareness of the global aspect of consumer product health and safety issues and to foster the exchange of information that will help reduce the incidence of death and injuries associated with consumer products.