	Introduction

Most consumer products under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are imported into the United States. More recently, the CPSC reported that the agency, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security, had stopped millions of units of imported consumer products that violated U.S. safety rules from reaching consumers in FY2012. Among other things, the act contained new requirements for testing and certification of consumer products, as well as provisions addressing the CPSC's role with regard to the import and export of consumer products. The CPSC may also prohibit the export for sale of certain consumer products from the United States to foreign countries. The United States has undertaken international obligations with respect to the promulgation of technical regulations by central government bodies like the CPSC. These obligations are contained in World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements such as the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, as well as U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). Import Safety

The CPSC plays a major role in evaluating the safety of consumer products offered for import into U.S. customs territory. In cooperation with CBP, the CPSC attempts to identify shipments intended for import that are likely to contain consumer products that violate import provisions enforced by the agency. The CPSC also determines whether to admit certain consumer products offered for import into U.S. customs territory. Under the amended CPSA and its implementing regulations, importers of finished products manufactured outside of the United States must certify that the products comply with all rules, bans, standards, or regulations applicable to the products under any act enforced by the CPSC. Prohibited Acts

The CPSA, as amended, makes it unlawful for any person to import into the United States any consumer product or substance under the CPSC's jurisdiction: (1) that fails to conform with an applicable consumer product safety rule promulgated by the CPSC under any act enforced by the agency; (2) to which a manufacturer has taken voluntary corrective action in consultation with the CPSC, provided that the CPSC notified the public of the action or the importer knew or should have known about it; (3) that is subject to a CPSC order for a recall or corrective action or a court order declaring an imminent hazard; or (4) that is a banned hazardous substance. The CPSIA amended the CPSA to specify that the CPSC may prohibit a person from exporting from the United States for the purpose of sale any consumer product that violates a safety rule promulgated under CPSA unless the importing country has told the CPSC that it accepts the importation of the consumer product. U.S. Free Trade Agreements

U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) contain additional obligations for the United States with respect to standards-related measures, including technical regulations. These obligations include requirements regarding nondiscrimination, transparency, and the use of international standards as a basis for regulations. International trade obligations of the United States pertaining to standards-related measures have been implemented in domestic laws applicable to the CPSC, particularly in the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) of 1979. Legislation in the 113th Congress: H.R. 1910 , the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2013, was introduced in the House on May 9, 2013. 1910 would require the Chairman of the CPSC to mandate that certain foreign manufacturers and producers of consumer products distributed in commerce establish a registered agent in the United States. This agent would have to be authorized to accept service of process on behalf of such manufacturer or producer for the purpose of any state or federal regulatory proceeding or civil action related to the product. In 2008, following widely publicized recalls of children's toys, Congress passed the CPSIA. Among other things, H.R.
Most consumer products within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are imported into the United States. The CPSC is the central, federal authority for the promotion and enforcement of consumer product safety. In 2008, following several well-publicized national recalls of toys and children's products, many of which contained lead, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which included provisions addressing the CPSC's role in ensuring the safety of imported and exported consumer products.
With regard to import safety, the CPSC acts in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security, to evaluate the safety of consumer products offered for import into U.S. customs territory. Working together with CBP, the CPSC attempts to identify shipments that are likely to contain consumer products which violate import provisions that the agency enforces. The CPSC also determines whether to admit certain consumer products offered for import into U.S. customs territory. Importers of products manufactured outside of the United States must certify that finished products comply with all rules, bans, standards, or regulations applicable to the product under any act enforced by the CPSC.
The export of consumer products from the United States to foreign countries may also be subject to regulation by the CPSC. In the CPSIA, Congress provided that, among other things, the CPSC may prohibit the export from the United States for the purpose of sale any consumer product that violates a safety rule under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) unless the importing country informs the CPSC that it accepts the importation of the consumer product.
In addition to domestic laws pertaining to the CPSC's regulation of the import and export of consumer products, the United States has also agreed to undertake certain international obligations with respect to the promulgation of standards-related measures (e.g., product safety regulations) by its central government bodies, including the CPSC. These obligations are found in several international agreements to which the United States is party, including the multilateral World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement), as well as bilateral and regional U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). Among other things, the TBT Agreement establishes rules pertaining to the promulgation of technical regulations by central government bodies like the CPSC, including rules concerning nondiscrimination, transparency, and reliance on international standards as a basis for regulations. U.S. FTAs also contain additional obligations for certain parties with regard to transparency. Standards-related trade obligations have been implemented in U.S. law, particularly in the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.
In the 113th Congress, H.R. 1910, the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2013, would require the Chairman of the CPSC to mandate that certain foreign manufacturers and producers of consumer products distributed in commerce establish a registered agent in the United States to accept service of process on behalf of such manufacturer or producer for the purpose of any state or federal regulatory proceeding or civil action related to the product.