Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008: New Regulatory Landscape for Product Safety

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (the Act) stands to expand not only the staffing, funding, authority, and reach of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, or the Commission) at the federal level, but also increases the ability of State Attorneys General to enforce consumer product safety laws at the state level. Introduced in November 2007 following several high-profile toy and other product recalls, earlier versions of the legislation had broad bipartisan support. The bill is expected to be signed by the president shortly.

The Act is intended to update and give added muscle to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by ultimately doubling funding, adding 500 new employees, equipping the agency with a new laboratory, and updating computer systems to assist in data compilation, analysis of incidents, and enforcement activities.

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