• The Washington Post, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 11:45 AM

Acting Consumer Product Safety Commission chief Nancy Nord says the agency will begin to place full-time staff at some of the nation's busiest ports, such as Seattle, to stop suspect toy imports and identify potential hazards before they hit the market.

Nord also says she is seeking to bolster the agency's "early warning" detection system for children's products, such as cribs, bassinets and play yards. The goal is to foster better agency communication and collaboration, as well as to "connect the dots" among safety complaints, allowing the CPSC to detect patterns in potential hazards as they emerge.

Addressing the National Press Club on Monday, Nord vigorously defended her safety record but said she stood ready to embrace major reform at the embattled agency. Congress provided the CPSC with an additional $20 million for the fiscal year, but has stalled on legislation that would significantly strengthen its regulatory powers.

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