Gov Group Calls for Risk-Based Testing for Import Safety
09/20/07 12:58 PM Filed in: Customs
| International
Trade
In
a 22-page
report issued
on September 10, 2007, the
Intragency Working Group on Import
Safety, a
Cabinet-level panel appointed by President Bush
in July, recommended that the U.S. shift from
inspecting goods at the point of entry to
screening the riskiest imports to prevent the
safety problems that have led to recalls of
millions of toys, tires, and pet products this
year, particularly from China. The group also
recommends, as a preventative measure, targeting
for closer inspection key weak points in the
production and shipment of the $2 trillion worth
of clothes, electronics, seafood, and other
products imported into the U.S. each year.
The U.S. imports the $2 trillion of products from more than 150 countries, from more than 825,000 importers, through 300 ports of entry. The value of imports is expected to triple by 2015. The American Shipper's Journal of International Logistics sets forth specifics of the report in this article. The prevention framework and risk-based monitoring system appears to borrow heavily from the existing Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, whereby the Department of Homeland Security works with importers to adopt best practices and require trade partners to also adhere to them.
The report also calls for improved information-sharing, promotion of technological innovation and development of "a culture of collaboration" among regulatory agencies and with foreign governments. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, who led the task force, stated that the changes will likely require additional funding and new powers, such as making consumer product recalls mandatory, however, he stated that it was too early to provide specifics. The group expects to provide details in mid-November, after hearing public comment. Congress intends to hold another hearing on import safety, and Chinese delegations plan to meet with federal officials.
The U.S. imports the $2 trillion of products from more than 150 countries, from more than 825,000 importers, through 300 ports of entry. The value of imports is expected to triple by 2015. The American Shipper's Journal of International Logistics sets forth specifics of the report in this article. The prevention framework and risk-based monitoring system appears to borrow heavily from the existing Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, whereby the Department of Homeland Security works with importers to adopt best practices and require trade partners to also adhere to them.
The report also calls for improved information-sharing, promotion of technological innovation and development of "a culture of collaboration" among regulatory agencies and with foreign governments. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, who led the task force, stated that the changes will likely require additional funding and new powers, such as making consumer product recalls mandatory, however, he stated that it was too early to provide specifics. The group expects to provide details in mid-November, after hearing public comment. Congress intends to hold another hearing on import safety, and Chinese delegations plan to meet with federal officials.