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I
f you hadn’t noticed, it’s
election season. We would be
the first to admit that you don’t
often see articles about politics
in
PPB
—and we promise this one
doesn’t take sides.
The Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) is headed by
five commissioners who create
and enforce product safety rules
for most of the consumer products
in the U.S., including promotional
products. How does your vote
influence your company’s catalog?
Your Vote And
The Promotional
Product Industry
Your vote in the November
election does have a big impact—
but, as we will see, it’s not only
your vote that matters.
CPSC is structured so that
the sitting president’s party
holds a three-to-two majority
on the commission, so during
the Obama administration,
three commissioners are
Democrats and two are
Republicans. The next
president will choose the
chairman of the CPSC and that
person’s party will also hold the
majority of the commission.
The new chairman, whoever
that may be, is a powerful
figure who directs the priorities
and the pocketbook of the
agency. Those subject areas
for regulation or investigation
could cover items in the
promotional industry,
such as lithium-ion battery
products like charging packs,
or something far afield from
the promotional industry, like
all-terrain vehicles (ATVs),
playground crumb rubber
toxicity or flame retardants
in upholstered furniture. The
CPSC has an incredibly broad
portfolio and the chairman has
wide latitude in directing the
power of the agency.
In these pages, you have likely
read articles about the current
direction of the agency.The
current chairman, Elliot F. Kaye,
is generally perceived as having
been themost aggressive CPSC
chairman in a generation. In his
relatively brief chairmanship, he
has taken very strong enforcement
stands for the agency. Just this
year alone, the commission has
levied the largest civil penalty in
its history, $15.45million, and is
on track for another record-setting
year of civil penalties. Also, this
It’s Not Only Your Vote That Matters
Thenewchairman,
whoever thatmay
be, is a powerful
figurewho directs
the priorities and
the pocketbook
of the agency.
Trump vs.
Clinton Affects
Product Safety
Regulation
At The CPSC
MoreThanYou
Might Think.
by
Neal Cohen
76
|
OCTOBER 2016
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THINK