Managing Supply Chain Risk – Importing Contaminated Products

Importers, distributors, and retailers have recently seen significant issues with imported manufactured items contaminated with banned hazardous materials from suppliers in India and China.   For example, low levels of radioactivity have been encountered in metal products ranging from manhole covers to bathroom accessories.  Often these contaminants have been introduced into the supply chain via contaminated scrap steel recycled into new steel or stainless steel.  For example, the radioactive isotope Cobalt-60 was discovered in a stainless steel part that was included in a plumbing valve kit imported by a US distributor from China.  The levels of radioactivity were easily detected but not generally considered harmful.  The Customs and Border Patrol may find these items via monitoring at US ports for Homeland Security issues.  However, if not identified on importation, the consequential costs related to recovery and disposal after distribution can be staggering.  Risks to the supply chain can be minimized by enforcing improved QA/QC protocols, applied at the manufacturer, to inspect input materials and/or finished products. The protocol should ensure that hazardous materials, for example, lead content in a brass valve to radioactive isotopes in a steel item, are checked and prohibited from use at manufacture.  This presentation will provide awareness on general issues recently experienced and what steps have been taken related to low-level radioactive materials, working with regulators such as the NRC and agreement States, to introduce mitigation steps or recovery operations as a result. It will further explore QA/QC protocol and accountability tools.