Regulator-to-Regulator Communication and Collaboration at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

February 27, 2016

Nancy Nord

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Abstract

This case study examines the development of the CPSC’s program to communicate and collaborate with safety regulators from foreign jurisdictions over the past 12 years. Given the agency’s small size and limited resources, it has a good track record working with its foreign counterparts to enhance consumer safety. However, given the growing complexity of both consumer products and the global marketplace, consumer safety will require increased efforts to foster such communication and collaboration. That collaboration can take many forms. The case study makes recommendations for greater engagement with foreign counterparts on both a technical and policy level, cooperation on enforcement matters, and regulatory cooperation, including efforts to align or harmonize standards.