US consumer product safety agency drops rule to disclose industry ties

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required people to disclose their financial interests when speaking to the agency. This means individuals and groups can continue to influence the agency's decisions without revealing potential conflicts of interest.

The agency wanted to know if people trying to influence its decisions had financial ties to the products they were discussing. This withdrawal means that information will not be collected. It leaves the public in the dark about potential biases in testimony or petitions.