Mintz Levin Provides Critical Guidance to Manufacturers and Retailers as U.S. Senate Passes Consumer Product Safety Act Reauthorization
3/7/2008
On March 6, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed S. 2663, the most ambitious reauthorization and amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Act and related statues since the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the 1970s. Mintz Levin has been actively engaged as a leader in the National Association of Manufacturers Coalition, representing manufacturers and retailers on this critical issue.
The Senate bill must be reconciled in a House-Senate conference with the House bill H.R. 4040. This could occur by July 2008. The final legislation will have a significant impact on manufacturing, supply chains and retail, including: a large increase in civil penalties per-violation; enhanced authority for states attorney generals to enforce federal product safety requirements; the acceptance of new employee "whistleblower" actions; increased public disclosure of consumer complaints; new product safety regulations; and more.
These new standards will require thorough preparation by companies including the reviewing of testing standards, supply chain arrangements, insurance coverage, and internal safety review mechanisms.
For additional information on the implications of the amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Act, please click here.
