CPSC is a United States government independent agency that was formed in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act that poses as a movement countering any uncalled for risks of injuries related to consumer products.

Since 2006, Republican Nancy Nord has acted as the Commission’s chairman. Its other commissioner is the Democrat Thomas Hill Moore. Usually, the Board consists of three commissioners. But in July 2006, Republican and former CPSC chairman Hal Stratton left his seat vacant. Eight months after, in March of 2007, former US President George W. Bush nominated Michael E. Baroody, an industry campaigner and the National Association of Manufacturers former head, as Stratton’s successor. This raised a controversy, prompting Baroody to withdraw his name on May 23 of that same year. Despite having only two commissioners, the Board was capable of functioning with a legal quorum for six months. However, the Board was unable to implement new policies, act out penalties, or even order recalls until a revision to a homeland security bill, which was signed on August 3 2007. This allowed the commission to meet for the succeeding six months.

In May 5 of this year, current United States President Barack Obama pronounced his nomination of Inez Tenenbaum as the head of the commission.

The CPSC agency has the power to control the sale and production of over 15,000 various consumer products; from baby cribs to all-terrain automobiles to swimming pools. Goods that are not under the agency’s jurisdiction are those particularly named by law as under other agencies’ jurisdiction. For instance, there are vehicles regulated by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), drugs regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and guns by the ATFA (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms).

The agency has also taken action countering providers of chemicals that are possibly used to produce fireworks as well as toys for children. Thus, a Lead-Free Toys Act chemical regulation was implemented that bans children’s goods that have traces of lead that are above acceptable levels.