The Commission's open meetings policy was first outlined in procedures published in the Federal Register on October 1, 1973. The guidelines required that all meetings between Commissioners or Commission staff and outside parties be announced in advance in the CPSC Public Calendar or in the Federal Register. This afforded all interested persons the opportunity to learn about meetings and to make arrangements to attend.
The amended proposal published October 24 in the Federal Register removes the requirement for a Federal Register announcement prior to meetings on issues pending before the Commission, but stipulates that all meetings on matters of substantial interest, with limited exceptions, should be listed with the Secretary of the Commission at least seven days before being held.
Meetings not listed in the Public Calendar and not specifically exempted from the notice requirement may be held only by permission of the Commission Chairman.
Meetings or portions of meetings at which trade secrets or other proprietary information are discussed may be closed to the general public in accordance with the law.
Meetings related to initial substantial hazard notifications, inspection activities and housekeeping contract negotiations are exempted from the advance notice and public attendance requirements as are meetings between Commission staff and members of the news media to discuss Commission activities.
The proposal requires Commission staff to submit meeting summaries within 20 days after a meeting is held and also states that telephone conversations relating to matters of substance must be recorded and submitted to the Office of the Secretary.
The meeting and conversation logs are available to be read by the public in the Office of the Secretary. The proposed policy, which will serve as an interim policy until finalized, will be open for comments until December 30, 1974. For a copy of the Federal Register notice or to submit views, contact: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1750 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20207.
Requests to receive the Public Calendar by mail on a regular basis should also be addressed to the Office of the Secretary.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800