After 18 years, Congress acts! Products might get a smidge safer.

The New York Times reported today that Senate passed a bill to toughen consumer product regulation.

The points I find most interesting about the current CPSC:

1. Congress hasn't changed consumer product law in 18 years.
2. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a staff of 400 people, which is half its size in the '80s, despite a growing flood of imported consumer goods.
3. 15 inspectors are tasked with monitoring all imported consumer products, a market worth $614 billion in 2007.
   

Major changes in the new bill:

1. Increases budget and staff.
2. CPSC gets to issue rules and penalize companies.
3. Reduces lead in toys. (Why is lead allowed at all?!)
4. Creates a public database of consumer complaints.
5. Attorneys general can request court injunctions to prevent sales of unsafe products.
6. Current voluntary toy safety standards become mandatory.
7. Toys must be tested for compliance with the regulations.
8. Maximum penalty rises from $1.25 million to $20 million.
9. Makes it a crime for a company to sell a recalled product.