U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent federal regulatory agency that was created in 1972 by Congress in the Consumer Product Safety Act. In that law, Congress directed the Commission to "protect the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products."

The CPSC has jurisdiction over about 15,000 types of consumer products, from automatic-drip coffee makers to toys to lawn mowers. Some types of products, however, are covered by other federal agencies. For example, cars, trucks and motorcycles are covered by the Department of Transportation; foods, drugs and cosmetics are covered by the Food and Drug Administration; and alcohol, tobacco and firearms are within the jurisdiction of the Department of the Treasury.

The CPSC works to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from consumer products by:

• Developing voluntary standards with industry
• Issuing and enforcing mandatory standards; banning consumer products if no feasible standard would adequately protect the public
• Obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair
• Conducting research on potential product hazards
• Informing and educating consumers through the media, state and local governments, private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries.