Source:
Washington PostThe federal government is poised for the first time to make public thousands of complaints it receives each year about safety problems with various products, from power tools to piggy banks.
The compilation of consumer complaints, set to be launched online in March by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has been hailed by consumer advocates as a resource that will revolutionize the way people make buying decisions.
But major manufacturing and industry groups have raised concerns about the public database, saying it may be filled with fictitious slams against their brands. Competitors or others with political motives could post inaccurate claims, business leaders say, and the agency will not be able to investigate most of the complaints.
Arguing that this could present a new burden in an already difficult economic environment, they are working behind the scenes to delay or revamp the project.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010902730.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert