Online Commerce Company Alibaba Group and CPSC Working Together On Consumer Safety

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jan 13, 2015, 11:49 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last November, Chairman Elliot F. Kaye made national headlines for urging certain online sites to take far greater responsibility for preventing the sale of dangerous, recalled consumer products on or through their sites. Today, the Chairman announced a ground-breaking voluntary consumer safety collaboration between the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited, the largest online and mobile commerce company in the world.

Available in Chinese and Spanish at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2015/01/online-commerce-company-alibaba-group-and-cpsc-working-together-on-consumer-safety/

Speaking from the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair, Kaye commended the China-based online giant's commitment to cooperate with CPSC in making illegal or recalled products in the United States unavailable to buyers who are identified as being located in the U.S.

Under the arrangement, Alibaba Group has established a direct line of contact for CPSC. The company has pledged to work swiftly with CPSC on requests to block sales of illegal and recalled consumer products to U.S. buyers on Alibaba Group platforms. Product safety information for U.S. importers will also be available on Alibaba Group platforms in the coming days.

Alibaba has also agreed to create access points on its Business to Business (B2B) platform that would guide U.S. importers to U.S. safety standards for higher risk consumer products.

"With an increasing number of companies and consumers taking their business online, Alibaba's decision to implement these new policies is a victory for U.S. consumers and their safety," said Chairman Kaye. The company's forward leaning approach in this regard will help prevent dangerous and recalled products from being passed on to unsuspecting consumers."

Alibaba Group had more than 300 million annual active buyers in 2014 and operates its sites as a platform for third parties. Alibaba does not engage in direct sales, compete with merchants, or hold inventory.

"We are honored and proud to work with the CPSC on these important and serious consumer protection measures. Chairman Kaye is a strong leader with an excellent track record of results in protecting U.S. consumers. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Chairman and his team to do everything possible to protect consumers," said Jim Wilkinson, Alibaba Group's Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs.

CPSC also works closely with other online marketplaces to protect the safety of U.S. consumers in the online marketplace.

Kaye's announcement in Hong Kong comes during his visit to one of the world's largest toy industry events. On January 14, the Chairman will speak to what is expected to be a packed hall of toy company executives, designers, and manufacturers. In his first visit to a foreign production center since becoming Chairman in July 2014, Kaye's message will include telling the toy industry: "All consumers, regardless of where they live, deserve to have quality and safety built into the products they buy, especially when it comes to toys for their children. I believe this as a parent and as the principal consumer product safety regulator for the United States."

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission