HHS Secretary to Visit Toys'R'Us to Discuss Import Safety, Preview Trip to China

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The busy holiday shopping
season is underway and many Americans may have questions about the safety of
food and products they buy -- many of which are imported. With this in mind,
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt will visit a Los Angeles
Toys"R"Us store on Tuesday to talk about import safety and ways to better
protect consumers.
Secretary Leavitt recently presented President Bush with an Action Plan
developed by an intra-governmental Import Safety Working Group to provide
specific recommendations to enhance the safety of the increasing volume of
imports entering the United States. Increased penalties of up to $10 million,
new certification methods, enhanced enforcement authority and a larger U.S.
presence at overseas facilities are just some of the provisions of the Action
Plan.
During the visit, the Secretary will also preview his upcoming trip to
China, where he hopes to finalize agreements with the Chinese government on
the safety of Chinese-made goods exported to the U.S.
Credentialed members of the media are invited to participate in the tour
and will have the opportunity to ask questions of Secretary Leavitt at a press
availability that will follow.
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007
12:00 p.m. PST Secretary Leavitt tours Toys"R"Us
12:30 p.m. PST Media Availability
(NOTE: media should arrive by 11:45 a.m. PST)

WHERE: Toys"R"Us
14705 Oceangate Ave.
Hawthorne, CA 90250

CONTACT: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

CREDENTIALED PRESS, PLEASE ARRIVE BY 11:45 A.M. PST AT MAIN ENTRANCE.

For more information and a copy of the Action Plan, please visit
www.importsafety.gov
SOURCE U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HHS Press Office, +1-202-690-6343