New Office for CPSC

At the Consumer Specialty Products Association’s (CSPA) conference, “The Consumer Product Safety Commission From A to Z (And Beyond),” keynote speaker Inez Tenenbaum, chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced that it will be opening a new Office of Education, Global Outreach and Small Business Ombudsman as a sign of the agency’s commitment to being accessible to the public.

“This office will coordinate and provide education and outreach activities to domestic and international stakeholders, including manufacturers, retailers, resellers, small businesses, foreign governments and consumers,” Tenenbaum explained. “We realize that many manufacturers may not know where to turn for information on our regulations or might experience difficulty accessing the information they need to fully address safety in the manufacturing process.”

“This is welcoming news to our industry,” said Adam Selisker, CSPA chairman. “Having a dedicated office that will streamline questions from CSPA member companies and others in the business community about product and manufacturing safety and issues related to regulations will help companies of all sizes. Our number one goal is to deliver safe products to the marketplace. We look forward to working with the Commission in this capacity.”

Tenenbaum also talked about the Commission’s new five-year strategic plan, designed to ensure that the Commission “remains the global leader in consumer product safety.” She said the Commission’s new vision has many parallels with CSPA’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of CSPA’s customers and the sustainability of its membership. She further cited CSPA’s product stewardship program, Product Care, in saying that: “if you continue to invest in safety, as exemplified by your Product Care program,” then the Commission “will do its part to be practical in establishing new rules and be fair in enforcing those rules.”