Agency placing staff at busy ports

After an unprecedented year of toy recalls, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is adding staff at the nation’s busiest ports and pledging to work more closely with the U.S. Customs Service to stop suspect imports and identify potential hazards before toys hit the market.

Congress provided the CPSC with an additional $20 million for the current fiscal year but has stalled on legislation that would significantly strengthen the agency’s regulatory powers.

Under the new initiatives, the CPSC will begin to place full-time staff at some of the nation’s busiest ports. The agency is being given access to real-time information and data from customs officials about shipments bound for the U.S. so that its staff can help pinpoint high-risk products.

The CPSC also plans to boost port inspection of toys, fireworks, electrical products and other goods considered potentially high-risk, and will conduct a study of specific imports to help determine safety compliance.