Product Safety

Overview
News
Articles

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from the risk of injury or death associated with the use of consumer products. In particular, CPSC works to protect consumers from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazards. CPSC’s Compliance Investigators, also known as the “Toy Police,” work closely with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports to identify and examine imported consumer products.

If CPSC determines that an imported product is unsafe and violates an applicable statute, CPSC may issue a Letter of Advice (LOA) that identifies the statute and the compliance failure. CPSC may also recommend that CBP seize the products or take other appropriate actions. However, sometimes these LOA and CBP seizures are based on erroneous information or other inaccuracies. In these cases, the experienced attorneys at Barnes Richardson can work with the importer to gather and present evidence of compliance to the CPSC and seek the release of seized property from CBP.

Sep. 16, 2025: Steel and Aluminum Derivatives Open for *More* Additions (Somehow)
Sep. 16, 2025: USTR Opens Comments for 2026 USMCA Review
Sep. 16, 2025: Commerce Issues Interim Auto Parts 232 Inclusion Process Information
Sep. 15, 2025: Implementing Some Tariff-Related Elements of the U.S.-Japan Agreement
Sep. 12, 2025: U.S. Tariff Focus in the Limelight of Mounting Russia Sanctions Debate
Sep. 8, 2025: Another Friday Surprise: Reciprocal Tariff Coverage Modified
Sep. 5, 2025: U.S. Seeks Expedited Writ of Certiorari from SCOTUS on IEEPA Tariffs Case
Sep. 5, 2025: 500% Tariffs & Other Sanctions Looming on Russia And Its Trading Partners
Sep. 5, 2025: U.S.–Japan Trade Deal Clarified to 15% Inclusive, Retroactive Tariff
Sep. 5, 2025: Mexico Considering Increasing Non-FTA Tariffs
Sep. 2, 2025: BIS Ending Validated End User (VEU) Program
Aug. 29, 2025: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Rules Against IEEPA Tariffs
Aug. 21, 2025: US and EU confirm Trade Framework in Joint Statement
Aug. 19, 2025: High-Priority Sectors Added to UFLPA Enforcement
Aug. 18, 2025: CBP Touts (Some) Dumping Evasion Wins
Aug. 15, 2025: New AD/CVD Petitions on High Purity Dissolving Pulp from Brazil and Norway
Aug. 15, 2025: Commerce Adds 407 (!) HTS Codes to 232 Derivative Annexes Starting Monday
Aug. 14, 2025: U.S. Eyes Content Percentage for "Transshipment" Enforcement
Aug. 11, 2025: Trump Extends China Tariffs by 90 Days
Aug. 11, 2025: Creatively Ambiguous Japan Deal has Unstacked 15% Baseline
Aug. 8, 2025: Indications of Steel and Aluminum Quotas for EU in Trade Deal
Aug. 6, 2025: Additional 25% Tariffs on Indian Imports Announced
Aug. 1, 2025: New Round of Global Tariffs: A Round Up
Jul. 31, 2025: Copper 232 Coverage Issued Through Customs
Jul. 30, 2025: Gird Your Wires: Copper Tariffs Coming August 1st
Jul. 30, 2025: Brazil Gets Its Own IEEPA Tariffs
Jul. 30, 2025: De Minimis Window to Close August 29
Jul. 29, 2025: Boston Train Cars Detained by Customs for Forced Labor Allegations
Jul. 28, 2025: Trump Announces Trade Agreement Framework with the EU
Jul. 23, 2025: Trump Announces Trade Deals with Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan
Jul. 16, 2025: USTR Initiates Section 301 Investigation on Brazil
Jul. 15, 2025: Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigations into Drones and Polysilicon Imports
Jul. 8, 2025: President Trump Spills the Tea on Copper Tariffs
Jul. 2, 2025: Trump Announces Trade Deal With Vietnam
Jul. 1, 2025: Canada Changes Course on Digital Services Tax
Jun. 17, 2025: Trump Administration and UK Sign Trade Deal
Jun. 16, 2025: Customs' Guidance on Aluminum Imports: Know the Country of Smelt and Cast or Pay 200%
Jun. 12, 2025: U.S. and China in a Trade Deal with Details to Follow
Jun. 9, 2025: Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Rise, Change, and Maybe Expand
Jun.3, 2025: Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs on the Rise
Jun. 2, 2025: CIT Clarifies Scope Referral Requirement in EAPA Cases
May 30, 2025: Tariffs Back on For a While Probably, Maybe
May 22, 2025: Skirting the Law: UFLPA Compliance and Subsidiaries
May 15, 2025: Another Customs "Clarification" Excludes Feeder Ships from In-Transit Vessel Exemption
May 13, 2025: White House Announces Trade Deal With China (UPDATE)
May 12, 2025: Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation on Aircraft, Engines, and Parts
May 12, 2025: White House Announces Trade Deal With China

View Archive

Jan. 22, 2025: Webinar: What We Know After the Inauguration
Sep. 9, 2024: McPherson to Co-Moderate Export Enforcement Discussion
Jun. 2, 2023: BRC and Attorneys Ranked in 2023 Chambers Guide
March 3, 2017: Watch the Webinar: Consumer Products Safety and Customs Enforcement at the Border
By: Lawrence M. Friedman
February 14, 2017: BRC, Joern Law Firm to Hold Joint Webinar on Consumer Product Safety Rules and Import Requirements
By: Lawrence M. Friedman