PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized 3,942 tires June 13 that were imported from China for violating National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) standards June 13.
The tires have an assessed value of nearly $140,000.
line the floor of CBP's Centralized Examination
Station in Philadelphia.
CBP officers initially inspected the tires May 15. NHTSA confirmed that the tires violated federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations. The tires lacked markings that convey important safety and use information for consumers, as well as brand identification that can be used in the event of a recall.
The tires, which are described as trailer or mobile home tires, were consigned to a business in Van, Texas, and destined to a business in Butler, Pa.
“Customs and Border Protection places a priority on working with our safety partners, such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, to intercept commercial goods that pose potentially significant health and safety threats to American consumers,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “CBP officers and trade specialists remain vigilant and are committed to reinforcing our nation’s physical, health and economic security through a robust enforcement posture at our international Ports of Entry.”
“Ensuring the safety of the traveling public is NHTSA’s priority. NHTSA works closely with our federal partners to ensure that imported products meet federal safety standards, which are put in place to protect consumers. We urge anyone with information or concern about a potential safety issue involving any tire or vehicle part to report it to NHTSA at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ or by calling 1-888-327-4236,” said Heidi R. King, NHTSA’s deputy administrator.
NHTSA is the agency responsible for improving safety on our Nation’s roadways. To achieve this goal, NHTSA develops and enforces the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which require minimum levels of safety performance for motor vehicles and equipment.
As part of a robust enforcement program in coordination with CBP and other law enforcement partners, NHTSA monitors motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment being imported into the United States to ensure that they comply with all applicable FMVSS.
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