Memo on Safety of Products from China

FROM:            Erik Autor, Vice President, International Trade Counsel
RE:             HOUSE COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON SAFETY OF PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM CHINA 
DATE:         September 7, 2007            

Attached for your information is a press release from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce announcing a hearing on September 19 regarding the safety of consumer products imported from China.  The press release lists the names of 19 companies, including several retailers, to which the committee sent letters questioning their procedures for ensuring the safety of products they import from China.  A copy of the letter sent to Mattel is attached for your reference.  In the wake of a series of recalls by Mattel of toys manufactured in China, Congress is very likely to consider legislation this fall to address the problem.            

NRF member companies should be aware that the Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC), which NRF helped establish, provides a good supply management tool for retailers and consumer brand companies to assist them in conducting, managing and maintaining supplier compliance audits on labor, security (C-TPAT), environment, and, central to this issue, quality control/product safety.  If you have any questions about FFC, please contact me or FFC managing director Kiku Loomis (tel. (212) 475-5112; email kloomis@worldmonitors.com).  I would also be happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Attachments:

Press Release from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Letter sent to Mattel Inc. from House Committee