Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Europe and U.S. Move Toward Cooperation with China on Product Safety

(International Herald Tribune – Stephen Castle)

The European Union and the United States on Monday sought to bind China into international controls on product safety when the three trading partners discussed consumer scares ranging from contaminated Chinese milk to dangerous toys.

At a meeting in Brussels, Beijing officials signed a new agreement with the EU promising to strengthen the exchange of information over faulty products, improve the ability to trace dangerous goods, and increase cooperation in taking them out of circulation.

Meglena Kuneva, the EU consumer protection commissioner, said the accord “provides for more transparency, better monitoring and new possibilities for joint surveillance.” …Read the complete article here.