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Sen. Klobuchar Demands Action on Safety Concerns over Chinese Imports

Klobuchar Challenges Government Agencies to Be More Vigilant in Protecting American Consumers

July 18, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) – At a Senate hearing today on Chinese imports, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar challenged top leaders of federal safety agencies to be more vigilant in protecting American consumers, especially children, from dangerous and defective products.

“Our consumer watchdogs need more teeth and they need to be more willing to use them,” said Klobuchar.

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Klobuchar called for the hearing to investigate reports of unsafe products coming from China.  She is also developing legislation to ensure stronger protections for American consumers.

“There’s a disturbing pattern of dangerous and defective products coming here from China,” said Klobuchar.  “But this isn’t just about what’s happening in China.  It’s also about what’s happening, or not happening, here in America.  The government agencies that are supposed to watch out for American consumers haven’t been doing enough.”

Klobuchar convened a Child Safety Forum last week in Minnetonka, Minnesota, to hear testimony on concerns about the safety of toys from China. 

Last month, 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden trains and railroad sets – made in China – were recalled after it was discovered that they were coated with toxic lead paint. 

That recall followed other recent regulatory actions against a variety of Chinese-made products (including other toys, tires, toothpaste, seafood and pet food).

Of the $22 billion worth of toys sold each year, about 80 percent are made in China.  A recent analysis showed that 72 percent of all recalls for children’s products since 2004 involved items made in China.  Of 94 toy recalls during that period, 78 were made in China. 

Another recent report found that all of the 24 toys recalled by the U.S. in the first half of 2007 were manufactured in China.

“We have good reason to be concerned about Chinese imports,” said Klobuchar.  “The country lacks strong health and safety laws; it lacks enforcement and accountability; it lacks transparency in its business practices; and there are serious allegations of corruption.”

She demanded that federal agencies do a better job protecting the American public from the rising tide of unsafe and hazardous imports.

Klobuchar pointed to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, saying it needs to act more vigorously on behalf of consumers by doing more product inspections, ordering recalls more quickly and alerting the public to potentially dangerous products.
She noted that total staff at the Commission has dropped by over half – from 978 in 1980 to barely 400 today.  The Commission has only about 100 field inspectors and compliance personnel nationwide to conduct inspections at ports, warehouses and stores.  Meanwhile, the number of products on the market has increased dramatically. 

Klobuchar said she was glad to hear the news that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is now considering broader inspections and stiffer penalties. 

Klobuchar said.  “The American public deserves better, and there needs to be more accountability.”

Witnesses at today’s hearing included Nancy Nord, Acting Chairwoman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Nicole Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Dr. Murray Lumpkin, Deputy Commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration; and Dr. William Hogarth, Assistant Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service.

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