Legislation of Product Safety

Consumerism today affects the operation of the American social and political system, challenging the Congress with new problems that delve deep into science and technology. At stake is the development of means for crossing the "transscientific" interface where matters of science and matters of public policy begin.This book reviews the incorporation of public health and environmental concerns into national policies for regulating consumer products (where possible, a distinction is made between statutory guidelines and administrative regulatory practices). It presents several case studies that suggest the range of consumer problems facing the Congress and that describe the influence of the Congressional committee structure on resultant statutory policies. Each chapter reviews the nature of potential hazards and the sources of legislative initiatives for dealing with this problem, summarizes the federal statutory authority in the area, and notes the effectiveness of the executive branch's administration of the program.The editors emphasize Congress's recognition of the need to develop requirements for assessing in advance potential adverse public health and environmental side-effects of consumer products. They also stress issues of science policy in order to better define the unique role that the scientist, engineer, political scientist, consumer advocate, politician, and industrialist can serve in the formulation of constructive federal statutory policies."Contents: " Legislative Approaches to Balancing Risks and Benefits, Richard A. Carpenter; Toxicological and Public Health Implications, Samuel S. Epstein; Cosmetics, Samuel S. Epstein and Richard D. Grundy; Food Additives, James Turner; Feed Additives, Harrison Wellford; The Federal Trade Commission, Harrison Wellford; Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Roberta Marks; Toxic Substances and Household Chemicals, Hanno Weisbrod and Kevin Shea; Pesticides, John Blodgett; Electronic Products, Richard D. Grundy; Consumer Radiologic Services, Richard D. Grundy; Summation, Richard D. Grundy.