White House Proposes New Import Safety Rules

The White House is set to roll out stiffer safety regulations governing imports today, reports the Wall Street Journal. The proposals, prompted by the wave of recalls this year, represent a move toward what the Journal calls "a prevention-based regulatory system that targets the riskiest products." The FDA could require manufacturers to take precautionary measures, certify that they meet standards, and provide more data.

The agency could bar imports if requirements aren't met and recall foreign products found to be tainted, which the FDA can't do now. The Consumer Product Safety Commission could require more safety tests and impose stiffer fines for violations. Some congressional Democrats welcomed the proposals; others said they don't go far enough. (More imports stories.)