Child Safety - US Government Safety Agencies

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) http://www.cpsc.gov/
Mailing address: 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4408
Phone: (800) 638-2772 Fax (301) 504-0124 and (301) 504-0025
E-mail: mailto:%20info@cpsc.gov

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent regulatory agency of the United States Government. Its mission is to protect consumers from unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products. It has jurisdiction over about 15,000 types of consumer products. However, some types of consumer products are covered by other federal agencies. CPSC does NOT have jurisdiction over car seats protecting children in on-road vehicles, foods, medicines, cosmetics and medical devices or dissatisfaction with business practices.

CPSC learns about product-related injuries and deaths through a variety of sources, including consumer complaints received through the Internet, letters, and Hotline calls. CPSC has authority to set mandatory standards, ban a product, order recalls of unsafe products or institute labeling requirements.

Under the CPSC umbrella is the: National Injury Information Clearinghouse www.cpsc.gov/about/clrnghse.html
Mailing address: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Injury Information Clearinghouse, Washington, DC 20207
Phone: (301) 504-0424 Fax: (301) 504-0124
E-mail: mailto:%20clearinghouse@cpsc.gov

Sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), this clearinghouse collects and disseminates information on the causes and prevention of death, injury, and illness associated with consumer products. Compiles data obtained from accident reports, consumer complaints, death certificates, news clips, and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System operated by the CPSC. Publications include statistical analyses of data and hazard and accident patterns.

The CPSC website, http://www.cpsc.gov/ has information about recalled products, warnings about unsafe products, and other safety information. You can also e-mail CPSC at mailto:%20info@cpsc.gov if you have questions about products. For information about how to report an unsafe product see When and How to File a Complaint above.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Mailing address: Washington, DC 20250-3700
Phone: (800) 535-4555
E-mail: mailto:%20fsis.webmaster@usda.gov

The mission of FSIS includes Inspection of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products (Import/Export; National Advisory Committees); Policy Documents (Labeling, Additives, etc.) and Regulations Pages; Strategic Planning and Government Performance and Results Act.

The FSIS website http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ has information on a variety of food safety topics including: food storage, preparation and handling; food spoilage; food-borne illnesses; food product recalls; meat and poultry inspections and other FSIS programs; labeling, dating and food additives; natural flavorings on meat and poultry labels; cookware and equipment; and nutrition. For information about how to report an unsafe product see When and How to File a Complaint above.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service
See the listing in the government section of your telephone book for your local extension office. The Agriculture Extension Service provides information on health, nutrition, fitness, and family well-being.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov/
Mailing address: 5600 Fishers Lane,
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: (888) 463-6332 Fax: (301) 594.1807 E-mail: The FDA has 20 email lists for people interested in a variety of subjects. Visit www.fda.gov/emaillist.html to sign up for their lists. For information about how to report an unsafe product see When and How to File a Complaint above.

Food and Drug Administration Office of Consumer Affairs http://www.fda.gov/
Mailing address: 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: (888) INFO-FDA Fax: (301) 443-9767
E-mail: mailto:%20webmail@oc.fda.gov
Responds to consumer requests for information and publications on foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, radiation-emitting products, and veterinary products. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

FDA is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) www.hhs.gov/index.html
You can contact HHS by: Mailing address: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 619-0257, Toll Free: 1-877-696-6775
E-mail - mailto:%20hhsmail@os.dhhs.gov

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) http://www.nhtsa.gov/
Mailing Address: 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590
Phone: (800) 424-9393 (Hotline); (202) 366-0123 (Hotline): TTY (800)m 424-9153
Fax: (202) 366-5962
E-mail: mailto:%20webmaster@nhtsa.dot.gov

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the federal government agency in charge of automobile, highway, and pedestrian safety. In addition to their regulation and recall of automobiles and other motor vehicles, NHTSA provides information and referral the effectiveness of occupant protection, such as safety belts, child safety seats and booster seats, tires, car crash test results, fuel economy and defect recalls. NHTSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation http://www.dot.gov/. NHTSA also: gives referrals to other Government agencies for consumer questions on warranties, service, automobile safety regulations, and reporting safety problems; works with private organizations to promote safety programs. and provides technical and financial assistance to State and local governments and awards grants for highway safety

To obtain general information, visit the NHTSA website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/. The NHTSA site has information on child safety seats and recalls as well as information about motor vehicles. For general questions you can email NHTSA at mailto:%20webmaster@nhtsa.dot.gov. For information about how to report an unsafe product see When and How to File a Complaint above.