About the Office of Import Surveillance
CPSC’s Office of Import Surveillance (EXIS) works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify and examine imported shipments of consumer products. As part of this effort, EXIS has co-located investigators at ports of entry who work side-by-side with CBP staff. EXIS also works to educate importers, manufacturers, and Customs brokers on CPSC’s standards and procedures.
Director: James Joholske, jjoholske@cpsc.gov, 301-504-7527
Deputy Director: Sabrina Keller, skeller@cpsc.gov, 301-504-7697
Latest Import Surveillance News
10/23/17: EXIS Participates in the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) Annual Conference
10/18/17: EXIS Participates in a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Roundtable
10/4/17: EXIS Participates in the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Annual Meeting
4/26/17: eFiling Alpha Pilot Assessment
2/7/17: Toys with Lead Seized in Charleston
1/26/17: EXIS Meets with eFiling Alpha Pilot Participants
12/1/16: EXIS Participates in CPSC’s Children’s Sleepwear Seminar
10/6/15: Guess What the Government Has Been Doing at the Ports to Make Your Home Safer?
Violations and Letters of Advice
CPSC issues Letters of Advice when there is a violation of a mandatory standard. These letters advise companies of the violation and of the nature of the necessary corrective action, which may include a recall, stop sale, or correction of production.
eFiling Alpha Pilot Assessment
CPSC created the eFiling Alpha Pilot to support the strategic objective of increasing the Commission’s import targeting capabilities.
eFiling Certificate of Compliance Assessment
Frequently Asked Import Questions
CPSC Detention of Products at Import
Useful Links
CBP’s Guide to Importing into the U.S.
Importer Self-Assessment Product Safety Handbook, Addendum and Questionnaire
Presentations
Overview of CPSC’s Office of Import Surveillance: basic import process, the Risk Assessment Methodology (RAM), coordination with Customs and Border Protection, targeting and enforcement.
Cargo Examination Process: reasons for exam, possible outcomes, field screening, sampling process.