Keeping Consumers Safe The Role of Government in Consumer Product Safety Written by Dallas Duncan and Dr. Frank B. Flanders June 2010
Consumer Bill of Rights Right to Safety –Protected against marketing of items that are hazardous to health and life Right to Be Informed –Protected against misleading information and be given facts needed to make informed choices Right to Choose –Have a wide variety of products and services available at competitive prices Right to Be Heard –Assured that consumer interests will receive consideration in making government policy Right to Education –Have access to programs and information to help make better market decisions Right to Redress –Work with established mechanisms to have problems corrected and to receive compensation for poor service or faulty products
Federal Trade Commission Government organization in charge of preventing unfair methods of competition in commerce Has divisions to monitor advertising, business education, law enforcement, finances, marketing, consumer information, identity theft, and company mergers Led by 4 commissioners and a chairman appointed by the President –No more than 3 commissioners can be from the same political party Current chairman is Jon Leibowitz
Freedom of Information Act Enacted in 1966 and monitored by the FTC Allows individuals to make requests for federal agency records or information There are 9 exemptions, including: –Top secret information –Medical and personnel files –Law enforcement investigation documents
Better Business Bureau Accreditation organization for businesses around the country 115 offices in the U.S. and Canada Evaluates businesses for membership Provides information to consumers about fraudulent or misleading information Allows consumers to file complaints against businesses and products
Consumer Product Safety Commission Organization charged with protecting consumers from risks associated with injury or death caused by products Risks include those from fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard CPSC work contributed to a 30 percent decline in the amount of deaths and injuries associated with products in the past 30 years
Recent Recalls It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product Costco “Pirates of the Caribbean” trundle bed –Small children can become trapped in the storage space McDonald’s “Shrek” drinking glasses –Ink on the glasses contains harmful chemical MEGA MagnaMan action figures –Magnets can break off and be choked on Target Halloween flashlights –Can melt and burn people