July 30, 2009 --The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) seeks to establish a permanent presence in China to implement the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which imposes tough standards for lead and chemicals called phthalates in products intended for children age 12 and under. The new Act imposes new testing and documentation requirements, and sets new acceptable levels of several substances. It imposes new requirements on manufacturers of apparel, shoes, personal care products, accessories and jewelry, home furnishings, bedding, toys, electronics and video games, books, school supplies, educational materials and science kits. The Act also increases fines and specifies jail time for some violations. Product manufacturers, distributors and importers will need to comply with these emerging regulatory schemes and enforcement requirements to meet relevant product standards.