Reports

In response to Executive Order 13439 the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety reviewed current import safety practices. The Working Group has issued the following reports:

Import Safety - Action Update and Appendix

On July 1, 2008, the Working Group presented Import Safety – Action Plan Update which outlines steps taken by the federal government, private sector and international partners to bolster import safety. Since the release of the Action Plan, strong enforcement actions, signed agreements with key trading partners, bilateral and multilateral discussions, shared critical information on safety and best practices and a process begun to improve safety practices both inside and outside of government. A detailed Action Plan Appendix provides further detail on the progress.

“I am convinced that countries that lead the charge for safety in a global marketplace will prosper as they protect the health and safety of their citizens and effectively facilitate trade. I am proud to report that the United States is at the forefront of this charge.”
--Secretary Leavitt

(PDF - 990KB)

Action Plan for Import Safety

On November 6, 2007 the Working Group released an Action Plan for Import Safety that provides specific short- and long-term recommendations to better protect consumers and enhance the safety of the increasing volume of imports entering the United States.

(PDF - 1.62 MB)

Strategic Framework for Import Safety and Supplement

The Working Group issued initial findings on September 10, 2007 Protecting Americans Every Step of the Way: A strategic framework for continual improvement in import safety. As a supplement to the Strategic Framework, the Work Group created a set of Immediate Actions.

"We recommend working with the importing community to develop approaches that consider risks over the life cycle of an imported product, and that focus actions and resources to minimize the likelihood of unsafe products reaching U.S. consumers"
--Secretary Leavitt

(PDF- 1.77 MB)

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Agency Statements

Import Safety Working Group Members issued statements:

Safety at the Speed of Life

In global commerce, as in the Olympics, things happen fast, they have to—but speed without safety carries great risk.

Safety at the Speed of Life (PDF-4MB)