Imports

Unsafe Imports
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) serves as the primary U.S. government agency
charged with protecting consumers from unsafe imports. CBP works with a number of other
government agencies each individually charged with keeping unsafe foreign products from
entering U.S. commerce.
CBP begins the process of screening shipments by examining data submitted to it in advance of
shipments arriving at U.S. ports in order to identify potentially high-risk containers. When these
containers arrive, they are screened using large-scale X-ray, gamma ray, and radiation detection
machines. Those that contain products of concern are set aside for further screening or
inspection by CBP or other agencies, depending on the product.
All meat, poultry and egg products are examined by the Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS), part of the Department of Agriculture, at the port of entry after the incoming shipment is
screened and approved by CBP. FSIS import inspectors check the documents and labels of each
shipment and conduct random sample inspections on the products. In addition to port of entry
screening, FSIS also ensures, through on-site foreign inspections, that countries exporting meat,
poultry and egg products to the United States establish and maintain inspection systems that are
equivalent to those of the United States. Yet another USDA agency, the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), restricts the importation of some animal products because of the
presence of animal diseases in the country of origin.
FDA conducts screening and inspections of other foods and drugs, cosmetics, medical devices
and electronic products that emit radiation, which must meet the same safety and labeling
requirements as U.S.-made products. Products may be imported as long as the facilities that
produce, store or handle the products are registered with the FDA and FDA receives advance
notice of each food import shipment. High-risk products are physically examined at the port of
entry or country of origin. FDA regularly conducts foreign inspections and has a permanent
ground presence in major exporting countries including China, India, Britain, and Mexico.
Consumer goods imports are screened at their point of entry by CBP and the CPSC’s Office of
Import Surveillance. When CPSC flags cargo it suspects may be problematic, that cargo is
screened by CBP and then turned over to CPSC for further inspection in order to determine
whether the product is hazardous and/or in violation of U.S. law. Hazardous and unlawful
materials are then detained or destroyed.
Still more government agencies focus on other products: alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and
explosives by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; pesticides by the
Environmental Protection Agency; motor vehicles by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, and seafood by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
As noted in Chapter III, half of U.S. imports come from other developed countries with safety
concerns similar to those of the United States. The other half at times has presented concerns.
The U.S. agencies listed above have been working with Chinese authorities, in particular, to
improve inspection operations prior to exportation of a good. And notably, Chinese consumers
themselves have increasingly demanded better health and safety checks on goods consumed
locally, particularly food products. This heightened domestic demand for safer products will
improve the Chinese system for monitoring the health and safety of the goods produced there,
and exported to the United States and around the world.