The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a federal agency created in 1972. The CPSC’s mission is to “protect the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer PRODUCTs.” The commission has jurisdiction over 15,000 types of consumer products and issues safety standards for everything from bicycle helmets to matchbooks. Certain consumer products (automobiles and food products, for example) are under the jurisdiction of other federal agencies (DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, respectively.) The CPSC uses a variety of methods to ensure product safety, including
• developing voluntary standards with industry
• issuing and enforcing mandatory standards; banning consumer products if no feasible standard adequately protect the public
• obtaining recall of unsafe products or arranging for their repair
• conducting research on potential product hazards
• informing and educating consumers

The CPSC administers five laws:
• Consumer Product Safety Act
• Flammable Fabrics Act
• Federal Hazardous Substances Act
• Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970
• Refrigerator Safety Act of 1956
The CPSC is composed of five members appointed by the president, by and with the consent of the Senate, for terms of seven years. The commission attempts to use voluntary standards and “product safety triangles”—government, industry, and consumers—to ensure product safety, and it will regulate industries when necessary. Businesses do not want the negative publicity associated with the CPSC’s determination that their product is unsafe. One of the most visible CPSC activities is the evaluation of toys that present choking hazards for children less than three years old. Some of the safety standards set by the CPSC include standards for lawn darts, swimmingpool slides, automated garage-door openers, insulation, and wood-burning appliances.