Europe, China sign consumer safety agreement

The EU and China on Monday signed an agreement to improve cooperation on consumer safety, AP reported. Under an agreement, the two sides will find ways to speed up the exchange of information on tainted food and other dangerous goods. EU officials will also be allowed to check on producers in China to ensure safety standards are met. The head of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission met with both sides to consider ways to establish three-way cooperation, including possible common safety standards for toys. Half of all dangerous products seized by European customs and product safety authorities last year came from China, which is the biggest exporter to the 27-nation EU.