Establishing an Interagency Working Group on Import Safety

This executive order creates a temporary interagency working group led by HHS to review and recommend improvements to U.S. import safety procedures. The group must deliver recommendations to the President within 60 days through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, then disband.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 40053

Impact dates

Sep 16, 2007
Recommendations to President on import safety matters

Key directives

Secretary of HHS shall establish Interagency Working Group on Import Safety
Working Group shall review current procedures for ensuring safety of products exported to U.S.
Working Group shall identify means to promote steps by U.S. importers to enhance import safety
Working Group shall survey authorities and practices of federal, state, and local agencies regarding import safety
Working Group shall provide recommendations to President through Assistant to the President for Economic Policy within 60 days
Chair shall terminate Working Group upon completion of duties after consulting with Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

Timeline

Immediate

Working Group established administratively within HHS
Chair convenes members from 12 specified agencies plus designees

Near term (90d)

Recommendations due to President within 60 days
Working Group reviews current import safety procedures, identifies best practices, surveys federal/state/local coordination

Long term

Working Group terminates after completing duties
potential policy changes dependent on presidential action on recommendations

Risks & tensions

Explicitly limited to 'existing resources' and 'subject to availability of appropriations' — may constrain operational capacity
No enforcement mechanism for recommendations; purely advisory to President
Temporary structure with mandatory termination reduces institutional follow-through
Vague scope: 'all appropriate steps' and 'other actions it considers appropriate' grant broad but undefined discretion