Revisions to Safety Standard for Sling Carriers, 21766-21770 [2020-07522]
Download as PDF
21766
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 76 / Monday, April 20, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
‘‘Ref. Publications’’ section of EASA AD
2019–0263.
(j) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this
AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, International
Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR
39.19, send your request to your principal
inspector or local Flight Standards District
Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the International Section, send it
to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (k) of this AD. Information may be
emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@
faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.
(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any
requirement in this AD to obtain instructions
from a manufacturer, the instructions must
be accomplished using a method approved
by the Manager, International Section,
Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or EASA;
or Saab SB Support and Services’ EASA
Design Organization Approval (DOA). If
approved by the DOA, the approval must
include the DOA-authorized signature.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
(k) Related Information
For more information about this AD,
contact Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace
Engineer, International Section, Transport
Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and
fax 206–231–3220; email
Shahram.Daneshmandi@faa.gov.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
(IBR) of the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) You must use this service information
as applicable to do the actions required by
this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) AD 2019–0263, dated October 22,
2019.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For information about EASA AD 2019–
0263, contact the EASA, Konrad-AdenauerUfer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone
+49 221 89990 6017; email ADs@
easa.europa.eu; Internet
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this
EASA AD on the EASA website at https://
ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA,
Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information
on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 206–231–3195. This material may
be found in the AD docket on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2019–1073.
(5) You may view this material that is
incorporated by reference at the National
Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Apr 17, 2020
Jkt 250001
of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@
nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued on April 3, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–08202 Filed 4–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 1228
[Docket No. CPSC–2014–0018]
Revisions to Safety Standard for Sling
Carriers
Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
In January 2017, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) published a consumer product
safety standard for sling carriers under
section 104 of the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act of 2008
(CPSIA). The standard incorporated by
reference the ASTM voluntary standard
that was in effect for sling carriers at the
time, with an additional requirement for
warning label attachment. ASTM has
since revised the voluntary standard for
sling carriers. The CPSIA provides a
process for when a voluntary standards
organization updates a standard that the
Commission incorporated by reference
in a section 104 rule. Consistent with
that process, this direct final rule revises
the mandatory standard for sling
carriers to incorporate by reference the
updated version of the ASTM standard,
while retaining the additional
requirement for warning label
attachment.
DATES: The rule is effective on July 6,
2020, unless CPSC receives a significant
adverse comment by May 20, 2020. If
CPSC receives such a comment, it will
publish a document in the Federal
Register, withdrawing this direct final
rule before its effective date. The
incorporation by reference of the
publication listed in this rule is
approved by the Director of the Federal
Register as of July 6, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by Docket No. CPSC–2014–
0018, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit
electronic comments to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
The CPSC does not accept comments
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
submitted by electronic mail (email),
except through https://
www.regulations.gov. The CPSC
encourages you to submit electronic
comments by using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal, as described above.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier Written
Submissions: Submit comments by
mail/hand delivery/courier to: Division
of the Secretariat, Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330
East West Highway, Bethesda, MD
20814; telephone (301) 504–7923.
Instructions: All submissions must
include the agency name and docket
number for this document. CPSC may
post all comments without change,
including any personal identifiers,
contact information, or other personal
information provided, to: https://
www.regulations.gov. Do not submit
electronically: Confidential business
information, trade secret information, or
other sensitive or protected information
that you do not want to be available to
the public. If you wish to submit such
information, please submit it according
to the instructions for written
submissions.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to: https://
www.regulations.gov, and insert the
docket number, CPSC–2014–0018, into
the ‘‘Search’’ box, and follow the
prompts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keysha Walker, Compliance Officer,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301)
504–6820; email: kwalker@cpsc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background and Statutory Authority
Section 104 of the CPSIA requires the
Commission to assess the effectiveness
of voluntary standards for durable infant
or toddler products and adopt
mandatory standards for these products.
15 U.S.C. 2056a(b)(1). The mandatory
standard must be ‘‘substantially the
same as’’ the voluntary standard, or may
be ‘‘more stringent than’’ the voluntary
standard, if the Commission determines
that more stringent requirements would
further reduce the risk of injury
associated with the product. Id.
Under this authority, the Commission
adopted a mandatory rule for sling
carriers in 16 CFR part 1228. The rule
incorporated by reference ASTM
F2907–15, Standard Consumer Safety
Specification for Sling Carriers, into 16
CFR 1228.2(a), with an additional
requirement for warning label
attachment in § 1228.2(b). 82 FR 8671
(Jan. 30, 2017). At the time the
E:\FR\FM\20APR1.SGM
20APR1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 76 / Monday, April 20, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
Commission published the final rule,
ASTM F2907–15 was the current
version of the voluntary standard.
ASTM has since revised the voluntary
standard, adopting ASTM F2907–19.1
The CPSIA specifies the process for
when a voluntary standards
organization revises a standard that the
Commission incorporated by reference
in a section 104 rule. First, the
voluntary standards organization must
notify the Commission of the revision.
Once the Commission receives this
notification, the statute provides that
the revised voluntary standard is
considered a consumer product safety
standard issued under section 9 of the
Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
2058), effective 180 days after the
Commission received notification of the
revision (or a later date specified by the
Commission in the Federal Register).
The Commission can prevent this by
notifying the organization, within 90
days of receiving notice of the revision,
that it has determined that the proposed
revision does not improve the safety of
the consumer product and that it is
retaining the existing consumer product
safety standard. 15 U.S.C.
2056a(b)(4)(B).
On January 8, 2020, the Commission
received notification from ASTM that it
had updated the sling carrier standard.
As this preamble discusses, the revised
standard includes revised requirements
for test methods, labeling, and
instructional literature, which improve
the safety of sling carriers. Accordingly,
the Commission is not determining that
‘‘the proposed revision does not
improve the safety of the consumer
product.’’ Therefore, under the CPSIA,
ASTM F2907–19 will replace ASTM
F2907–15 in paragraph (a) of the
mandatory standard for sling carriers,
effective July 6, 2020, 180 days after
CPSC received ASTM’s notice.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
B. Revised Standard
1. Revisions to ASTM F2907
The ASTM standard for sling carriers
includes performance requirements and
test methods, as well as requirements
for warning labels and instructional
literature, to address hazards to children
associated with sling carriers.
ASTM F2907–19 includes revised
requirements for test methods, labeling,
and instructional literature to address
two considerations in the way sling
carriers are marketed and used. These
considerations are: (1) The use of sling
carriers for two occupants (rather than
one), and (2) sling carriers that are
marketed to carry more than the existing
1 ASTM approved ASTM F2907–19 on November
1, 2019, and published it in November 2019.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Apr 17, 2020
Jkt 250001
test weight of 35 pounds. ASTM F2907–
19 also includes several revisions to
clarify existing requirements, as well as
editorial revisions that do not alter the
substantive requirements or affect
safety.
As described below, the revisions in
ASTM F2907–19 more closely reflect
the conditions for which some sling
carriers are marketed and used. Under
these revised requirements, sling
carriers must undergo testing that
simulates the conditions under which
they are marketed to be used and are
actually used. Because testing sling
carriers under their actual use
conditions more accurately assesses
their durability, the Commission
concludes that the revised standard
improves the safety of sling carriers.
Because the Commission declines to
determine that the revision ‘‘does not
improve the safety’’ of sling carriers, the
revised ASTM standard will replace
F2907–15 in paragraph (a) of § 1228.2.
The sections below discuss the revised
portions of the ASTM standard, as well
as CPSC staff’s assessment of those
revisions.
a. Sling Carriers for Two Occupants
ASTM F2907–15 only addresses sling
carriers designed to carry one occupant.
The scope of the standard, the test
procedures, and the instructional
requirements all reflect this.2 However,
there are sling carriers designed for two
occupants, and consumers sometimes
use sling carriers for two occupants,
especially twins. ASTM F2907–19
modifies the scope, testing, labeling,
and instructional literature
requirements to address slings designed
to contain up to two occupants. The
following revisions in ASTM F2907–19
reflect these changes:
• In section 1.3, the scope covers
sling carriers designed to contain up to
two occupants;
• section 6.2 requires each restraint
system to be tested, accounting for the
possibility of more than one restraint
system;
• section 7.1.5 requires two-occupant
slings to be tested with weight in both
support areas concurrently;
• In addition to the dynamic load
requirements for single-occupant
products in section 7.2.2, there are
2 The scope of the standard (section 1) uses the
singular (e.g., ‘‘an occupant,’’ ‘‘a child’’) to refer to
occupants of a sling carrier. The test procedures
(section 7), require testing with a 35-pound weight,
consistent with the weight of a single child
occupant, referenced in the scope (section 1).
Instructional literature requirements (section 9)
require instructional literature to address the
following: ‘‘Never place more than one baby in the
sling carrier.’’
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
21767
dynamic load requirements for twooccupant products in section 7.2.3;
• in addition to the occupantretention test requirements for singleoccupant products in section 7.5.2,
there are occupant-retention test
requirements for two-occupant products
in section 7.5.3;
• section 8.1.4 requires labels to state
the recommended child weight for each
support area, accounting for the
possibility of more than one occupant;
• section 8.3.4 requires pictograms of
improper and proper infant positioning
to include one or two occupants,
depending on the product design; and
• the instructional literature
requirements in section 9.3.9 retain the
required language: ‘‘never place more
than one baby in the sling carrier’’ for
single-occupant sling carriers, but
provide a modified statement for twooccupant sling carriers.
CPSC staff believes that these
revisions improve the safety of sling
carriers because they require sling
carriers to be tested under the
conditions for which they are marketed
and used. Under ASTM F2907–15, twooccupant sling carriers would
potentially fall outside the scope of the
standard, or would be subject to test
requirements that reflect the weight or
presence of a single occupant only,
which is less than the load they would
bear during actual use. ASTM F2907–19
requires sling carriers that are marketed
for two occupants to undergo the same
testing as single-occupant products, but
with the added conditions associated
with two occupants.
Although staff is not aware of any
incidents that involve multiple
occupants in a single sling carrier,3 staff
believes that the revised standard
provides better safety than excluding
two-occupant slings from the standard
or testing them under the conditions
associated with a single occupant.
b. Sling Carriers with Recommended
Maximum Weights Above 35 Pounds
ASTM F2907–15 uses 35-pound
weights/masses in its test procedures,
consistent with the typical maximum
3 Although CPSC is not aware of any incidents
that involve multiple occupants in a single sling
carrier, staff identified one fatality associated with
simultaneous use of two sling carriers. Although
this is not directly relevant to two-occupant slings,
we note this incident because of its marginal
relevance to the use of sling carriers with more than
one child. Both of the sling carriers involved in that
incident have been recalled because of hazards
associated with single-occupant use; so staff cannot
conclude that the use of multiple slings was a factor
in the incident. Moreover, the standard does not
support simultaneous use of multiple sling carriers,
because both ASTM F2907–15 and –19 require
instructional literature to state: ‘‘Never use/wear
more than one carrier at a time.’’
E:\FR\FM\20APR1.SGM
20APR1
21768
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 76 / Monday, April 20, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
weight of an occupant stated in the
scope section. However, some
manufacturers market sling carriers with
a maximum weight above 35 pounds, to
allow for a larger occupant or multiple
occupants. ASTM F2907–19 addresses
this by requiring test weights to be the
greater of 35 pounds, or the
manufacturer’s recommended maximum
occupant weight. The following
revisions in ASTM F2907–19 reflect
these changes:
• In section 1.3, the scope notes that,
although the typical maximum weight
of an occupant is 35 pounds,
manufacturers may provide a higher
weight limit;
• for the dynamic load test, the test
mass/weight in section 7.2.2 is the
greater of 35 pounds, or the
manufacturer’s recommended maximum
weight; and
• for the occupant-retention test, the
test mass stated in section 7.5.1.3 is the
greater of 35 pounds, or the
manufacturer’s recommended maximum
weight.
CPSC staff believes that these
revisions improve the safety of sling
carriers, because they require sling
carriers to be tested under the
conditions for which they are marketed
and used. ASTM F2907–19 requires
sling carriers that are marketed to carry
more than 35 pounds to be tested with
the marketed maximum weight. This
provides better safety than testing sling
carriers with 35-pound weights when
they are marketed as supporting more
than that.
c. Clarifications
ASTM F2907–19 also includes several
modifications to clarify, simplify, and
add detail to existing testing
requirements. These revisions do not
alter the substantive requirements in the
standard.
The first clarification is in section 7.1,
which includes the static load testing
requirements. Section 6.1.1 of both
ASTM F2907–15 and ASTM F2907–19
state that after static load testing,
‘‘adjustable attachment systems of the
sling carrier shall not slip more than 1
in. (25.44 mm) per element.’’ Section 7.1
in both versions of the standard describe
the static load test procedure. However,
a clarification in ASTM F2907–19
directs testers to mark the sling at the
beginning and end of the testing to
measure slippage.
The second clarification is in section
7.2, which includes the dynamic load
testing requirements. In ASTM F2907–
15, this section (7.2.3) provides a
calculation for determining the number
of cycles of testing. In ASTM F2907–19,
the number of cycles is provided in a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Apr 17, 2020
Jkt 250001
table (Table 1). The calculation in
ASTM F2907–15 yields the numbers in
the table; the revision simply eliminates
the need for calculations. A footnote to
the table also provides details about
how to determine the number of
carrying positions, which is the basis for
the calculation and table. This table also
replaces the same calculation previously
used in section 7.5, on occupant
retention testing.
d. Editorial Revisions
ASTM F2907–19 also includes
editorial revisions that do not affect the
substantive requirements in the
standard. The following revisions in
ASTM F2907–19 reflect these changes:
• Section 1.8 adds environmental
practices to the previous list of safety
and health practices that users should
consider;
• section 1.9 explains that ASTM
developed the standard in accordance
with principles recognized by the World
Trade Organization;
• the term ‘‘manufacturer’s
recommended carrying position’’
replaces various terms that referred to
the carrying position, for
standardization;
• the term ‘‘manufacturer’s
recommended maximum weight’’
replaces ‘‘manufacturer’s maximum
recommended weight’’; and
• units are in forms consistent with
ASTM Form and Style (e.g., ‘‘1 in. to 2
in.’’ replaces ‘‘1 to 2 in.’’).
2. More Stringent Requirement for Label
Attachment
The current mandatory standard
incorporates by reference ASTM F2907–
15, but includes an additional
requirement for label attachment.
Specifically, 16 CFR 1228.2(b) requires
that ‘‘warning labels that are attached to
the fabric with seams shall remain in
contact with the fabric around the entire
perimeter of the label, when the sling is
in all manufacturer recommended use
positions.’’ The Commission added this
requirement to address comments
expressing concerns that consumers
would accidentally or intentionally
remove or damage, or otherwise alter,
‘‘free-hanging’’ labels that are attached
to a product at only one end of the label.
The Commission explained that
removing or altering these labels
‘‘would eliminate the potential safety
benefit of the label,’’ and accordingly,
adopted the additional attachment
requirement. 82 FR 8671, 8679 (Jan. 30,
2017).
ASTM F2907–19 does not include
this additional requirement. CPSC staff
believes that this requirement remains
appropriate. Therefore, the Commission
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
is retaining this additional requirement
in 16 CFR 1228.2(b).
C. Incorporation by Reference
Section 1228.2(a) of the direct final
rule incorporates by reference ASTM
F2907–19. The Office of the Federal
Register (OFR) has regulations regarding
incorporation by reference. 1 CFR part
51. Under these regulations, agencies
must discuss, in the preamble to a final
rule, ways in which the material the
agency incorporates by reference is
reasonably available to interested
parties, and how interested parties can
obtain the material. In addition, the
preamble to the final rule must
summarize the material. 1 CFR 51.5(b).
In accordance with the OFR
regulations, B. Revised Standard of this
preamble summarizes the major
provisions of ASTM F2907–19 that the
Commission incorporates by reference
into 16 CFR part 1228. The standard is
reasonably available to interested
parties and interested parties may
purchase a copy of ASTM F2907–19
from ASTM International, 100 Barr
Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959 USA;
phone; 610–832–9585; www.astm.org. A
copy of the standard can also be
inspected at CPSC’s Division of the
Secretariat, U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330
East West Highway, Bethesda, MD
20814, telephone 301–504–7923. In
addition, once the rule becomes
effective, a read-only copy of the
standard will be available for viewing
on the ASTM website at: https://
www.astm.org/READINGLIBRARY/.
D. Certification
Section 14(a) of the Consumer
Product Safety Act (CPSA; 15 U.S.C.
2051–2089) requires manufacturers of
products subject to a consumer product
safety rule under the CPSA, or to a
similar rule, ban, standard, or regulation
under any other act enforced by the
Commission, to certify that the products
comply with all applicable CPSC
requirements. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a). Such
certification must be based on a test of
each product, or on a reasonable testing
program, or, for children’s products, on
tests on a sufficient number of samples
by a third party conformity assessment
body accredited by CPSC to test
according to the applicable
requirements. As noted, standards
issued under section 104(b)(1)(B) of the
CPSIA are ‘‘consumer product safety
standards.’’ Thus, they are subject to the
testing and certification requirements of
section 14 of the CPSA.
Because sling carriers are children’s
products, a CPSC-accepted third party
E:\FR\FM\20APR1.SGM
20APR1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 76 / Monday, April 20, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
conformity assessment body must test
samples of the products. These products
also must comply with all other
applicable CPSC requirements, such as
the lead content requirements in section
101 of the CPSIA,4 the phthalates
prohibitions in section 108 of the
CPSIA,5 the tracking label requirements
in section 14(a)(5) of the CPSA,6 and the
consumer registration form
requirements in section 104(d) of the
CPSIA.7
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
E. Notice of Requirements
In accordance with section
14(a)(3)(B)(iv) of the CPSIA, the
Commission previously published a
notice of requirements (NOR) for
accreditation of third party conformity
assessment bodies for testing sling
carriers. 82 FR 8671 (Jan. 30, 2017). The
NOR provided the criteria and process
for CPSC to accept accreditation of third
party conformity assessment bodies for
testing sling carriers to 16 CFR part
1228. The NORs for all mandatory
standards for durable infant or toddler
products are listed in the Commission’s
rule, ‘‘Requirements Pertaining to Third
Party Conformity Assessment Bodies’’
in 16 CFR part 1112.
Under the revised provisions in
ASTM F2907–19, testing of affected
products involves increased test weights
and testing of more occupant positions.
However, the test methodologies remain
the same. Accordingly, the revisions do
not significantly change the way that
third party conformity assessment
bodies test these products for
compliance with the sling carriers
standard. Laboratories will begin testing
to the new standard when ASTM
F2907–19 goes into effect, and the
existing accreditations that the
Commission has accepted for testing to
this standard will cover testing to the
revised standard. Therefore, the
Commission considers the existing
CPSC-accepted laboratories for testing to
ASTM F2907–15 to be capable of testing
to ASTM F2907–19 as well.
Accordingly, the existing NOR for this
standard will remain in place, and
CPSC-accepted third party conformity
assessment bodies are expected to
update the scope of the testing
laboratories’ accreditations to reflect the
revised standard in the normal course of
renewing their accreditations.
F. Direct Final Rule Process
The Commission is issuing this rule
as a direct final rule. Although the
4 15
U.S.C. 1278a.
U.S.C. 2057c.
6 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(5).
7 15 U.S.C. 2056a(d).
5 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Apr 17, 2020
Jkt 250001
Administrative Procedure Act (APA; 5
U.S.C. 551–559) generally requires
agencies to provide notice of a rule and
an opportunity for interested parties to
comment on it, section 553 of the APA
provides an exception when the agency,
‘‘for good cause finds,’’ that notice and
comment are ‘‘impracticable,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest.’’ Id. 553(b)(B).
Under the process set out in section
104(b)(4)(B) of the CPSIA, when ASTM
revises a standard that the Commission
has previously incorporated by
reference under section 104(b)(1)(B) of
the CPSIA, that revision will become the
new CPSC standard, unless the
Commission determines that ASTM’s
revision does not improve the safety of
the product. Thus, unless the
Commission makes such a
determination, the ASTM revision
becomes CPSC’s standard by operation
of law. The Commission is allowing
ASTM F2907–19 to become CPSC’s new
standard. The purpose of this direct
final rule is merely to update the
reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) so that it reflects
accurately the version of the standard
that takes effect by statute. The rule
updates the reference in the CFR, but
under the terms of the CPSIA, ASTM
F2907–19 takes effect as the new CPSC
standard for sling carriers, even if the
Commission did not issue this rule.
Thus, public comments would not
impact the substantive changes to the
standard or the effect of the revised
standard as a consumer product safety
standard under section 104(b) of the
CPSIA. Under these circumstances,
notice and comment are not necessary.
In Recommendation 95–4, the
Administrative Conference of the
United States (ACUS) endorses direct
final rulemaking as an appropriate
procedure to expedite rules that are
noncontroversial and that are not
expected to generate significant adverse
comment. See 60 FR 43108 (Aug. 18,
1995). ACUS recommends that agencies
use the direct final rule process when
they act under the ‘‘unnecessary’’ prong
of the good cause exemption in 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B). Consistent with the ACUS
recommendation, the Commission is
publishing this rule as a direct final rule
because CPSC does not expect any
significant adverse comments.
Unless CPSC receives a significant
adverse comment within 30 days of this
notification, the rule will become
effective on July 6, 2020. In accordance
with ACUS’s recommendation, the
Commission considers a significant
adverse comment to be ‘‘one where the
commenter explains why the rule would
be inappropriate,’’ including an
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
21769
assertion challenging ‘‘the rule’s
underlying premise or approach,’’ or a
claim that the rule ‘‘would be ineffective
or unacceptable without change.’’ 60 FR
43108, 43111. As noted, this rule merely
updates a reference in the CFR to reflect
a change that occurs by statute.
If the Commission receives a
significant adverse comment, the
Commission would withdraw this direct
final rule. Depending on the comment
and other circumstances, the
Commission may then incorporate the
adverse comment into a subsequent
direct final rule or publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking, providing an
opportunity for public comment.
G. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA;
5 U.S.C. 601–612) generally requires
agencies to review proposed and final
rules for their potential economic
impact on small entities, including
small businesses, and prepare regulatory
flexibility analyses. 5 U.S.C. 603, 604.
The RFA applies to any rule that is
subject to notice and comment
procedures under section 553 of the
APA. Id. As discussed in F. Direct Final
Rule Process of this preamble, the
Commission has determined that notice
and the opportunity to comment are
unnecessary for this rule. Therefore, the
RFA does not apply. CPSC also notes
the limited nature of this document,
which merely updates the incorporation
by reference to reflect the mandatory
CPSC standard that takes effect under
section 104 of the CPSIA.
H. Paperwork Reduction Act
The current mandatory standard for
sling carriers includes requirements for
marking, labeling, and instructional
literature that constitute a ‘‘collection of
information,’’ as defined in the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA; 44
U.S.C. 3501–3521). The revised
mandatory standard does not alter these
requirements. The Commission took the
steps required by the PRA for
information collections when it adopted
16 CFR part 1228, including obtaining
approval and a control number. Because
the information collection is unchanged,
the revision does not affect the
information collection requirements or
approval related to the standard.
I. Environmental Considerations
The Commission’s regulations
provide a categorical exclusion for the
Commission’s rules from any
requirement to prepare an
environmental assessment or an
environmental impact statement where
they ‘‘have little or no potential for
affecting the human environment.’’ 16
E:\FR\FM\20APR1.SGM
20APR1
21770
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 76 / Monday, April 20, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
CFR 1021.5(c)(2). This rule falls within
the categorical exclusion, so no
environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement is
required.
J. Preemption
Section 26(a) of the CPSA provides
that where a consumer product safety
standard is in effect and applies to a
product, no state or political
subdivision of a state may either
establish or continue in effect a
requirement dealing with the same risk
of injury unless the state requirement is
identical to the Federal standard. 15
U.S.C. 2075(a). Section 26(c) of the
CPSA also provides that states or
political subdivisions of states may
apply to CPSC for an exemption from
this preemption under certain
circumstances. Section 104(b) of the
CPSIA deems rules issued under that
provision ‘‘consumer product safety
standards.’’ Therefore, once a rule
issued under section 104 of the CPSIA
takes effect, it will preempt in
accordance with section 26(a) of the
CPSA.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
K. Effective Date
Under the procedure set forth in
section 104(b)(4)(B) of the CPSIA, when
a voluntary standard organization
revises a standard that the Commission
adopted as a mandatory standard, the
revision becomes the CPSC standard
within 180 days of notification to the
Commission, unless the Commission
determines that the revision does not
improve the safety of the product, or the
Commission sets a later date in the
Federal Register. 15 U.S.C.
2056a(b)(4)(B). The Commission is
taking neither of those actions with
respect to the standard for sling carriers.
Therefore, ASTM F2907–19
automatically will take effect as the new
mandatory standard for sling carriers on
July 6, 2020, 180 days after the
Commission received notice of the
revision on January 8, 2020. As a direct
final rule, unless the Commission
receives a significant adverse comment
within 30 days of this notification, the
rule will become effective on July 6,
2020.
L. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act (CRA;
5 U.S.C. 801–808) states that, before a
rule may take effect, the agency issuing
the rule must submit the rule, and
certain related information, to each
House of Congress and the Comptroller
General. 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1). The
submission must indicate whether the
rule is a ‘‘major rule.’’ The CRA states
that the Office of Information and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Apr 17, 2020
Jkt 250001
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) determines
whether a rule qualifies as a ‘‘major
rule.’’
Pursuant to the CRA, this rule does
not qualify as a ‘‘major rule,’’ as defined
in 5 U.S.C. 804(2). To comply with the
CRA, the Office of the General Counsel
will submit the required information to
each House of Congress and the
Comptroller General.
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1228
(2) [Reserved]
Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020–07522 Filed 4–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355–01–P
FEDERAL MEDIATION AND
CONCILIATION SERVICE
Consumer protection, Imports,
Incorporation by reference, Infants and
children, Labeling, Law enforcement,
Toys.
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Commission amends 16
CFR chapter II as follows:
29 CFR Part 1473
PART 1228—SAFETY STANDARD FOR
SLING CARRIERS
SUMMARY:
1. Revise the authority citation for part
1228 to read as follows:
■
Authority: Sec. 104, Pub. L. 110–314, 122
Stat. 3016 (15 U.S.C. 2056a).
■
2. Revise § 1228.2 to read as follows:
§ 1228.2
Requirements for sling carriers.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph
(b) of this section, each sling carrier
must comply with all applicable
provisions of ASTM F2907–19,
Standard Consumer Safety
Specification for Sling Carriers,
approved on November 1, 2019. The
Director of the Federal Register
approves this incorporation by reference
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and
1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy
of this ASTM standard from ASTM
International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO
Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA
19428–2959; www.astm.org. A read-only
copy of the standard is available for
viewing on the ASTM website at https://
www.astm.org/READINGLIBRARY/. You
may inspect a copy at the Division of
the Secretariat, U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330
East West Highway, Bethesda, MD
20814, telephone 301–504–7923, or at
the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this
material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@
nara.gov, or go to: www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
(b) In addition to complying with
section 5.7.2 of ASTM F2907–19,
comply with the following:
(1) 5.7.3 Warning labels that are
attached to the fabric with seams shall
remain in contact with the fabric around
the entire perimeter of the label, when
the sling is in all manufacturer
recommended use positions.
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
RIN 3076–AA15
Administrative Guidance
Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This final rule sets forth the
Service’s procedures governing the
issuance of guidance documents as
required by the Executive order titled
‘‘Promoting the Rule of Law Through
Improved Agency Guidance
Documents’’.
DATES: Effective on May 20, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Cudahy, Office of the General
Counsel, 202–606–8090, scudahy@
fmcs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final
rule, which adds to the Code of Federal
Regulations at 49 part 1473, is adopted
pursuant to Executive Order 13891,
titled: ‘‘Promoting the Rule of Law
Through Improved Agency Guidance
Documents’’ (October 9, 2019). In that
Executive order, Federal agencies are
required to finalize regulations, or
amend existing regulations as necessary,
to set forth processes and procedures for
issuing guidance documents.
Administrative Procedure
Under the Administrative Procedure
Act, an agency may waive the normal
notice and comment procedures if the
action is a rule of agency organization,
procedure, or practice. See 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(3)(A). As this final rule merely
codifies procedures applicable to the
Service’s administrative procedures into
the Code of Federal Regulations, notice
and comment are not necessary.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
A. Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget
has determined that this rulemaking is
not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866. The Service
does not anticipate that this rulemaking
will have an economic impact on
regulated entities. This is a rule of
agency procedure and practice. The
E:\FR\FM\20APR1.SGM
20APR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21766-21770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07522]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 1228
[Docket No. CPSC-2014-0018]
Revisions to Safety Standard for Sling Carriers
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In January 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) published a consumer product safety standard for sling carriers
under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of
2008 (CPSIA). The standard incorporated by reference the ASTM voluntary
standard that was in effect for sling carriers at the time, with an
additional requirement for warning label attachment. ASTM has since
revised the voluntary standard for sling carriers. The CPSIA provides a
process for when a voluntary standards organization updates a standard
that the Commission incorporated by reference in a section 104 rule.
Consistent with that process, this direct final rule revises the
mandatory standard for sling carriers to incorporate by reference the
updated version of the ASTM standard, while retaining the additional
requirement for warning label attachment.
DATES: The rule is effective on July 6, 2020, unless CPSC receives a
significant adverse comment by May 20, 2020. If CPSC receives such a
comment, it will publish a document in the Federal Register,
withdrawing this direct final rule before its effective date. The
incorporation by reference of the publication listed in this rule is
approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 6, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2014-
0018, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. The CPSC does not accept comments
submitted by electronic mail (email), except through https://www.regulations.gov. The CPSC encourages you to submit electronic
comments by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal, as described above.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier Written Submissions: Submit comments by
mail/hand delivery/courier to: Division of the Secretariat, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda,
MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this document. CPSC may post all comments without
change, including any personal identifiers, contact information, or
other personal information provided, to: https://www.regulations.gov.
Do not submit electronically: Confidential business information, trade
secret information, or other sensitive or protected information that
you do not want to be available to the public. If you wish to submit
such information, please submit it according to the instructions for
written submissions.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to: https://www.regulations.gov, and insert the
docket number, CPSC-2014-0018, into the ``Search'' box, and follow the
prompts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keysha Walker, Compliance Officer,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-6820; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background and Statutory Authority
Section 104 of the CPSIA requires the Commission to assess the
effectiveness of voluntary standards for durable infant or toddler
products and adopt mandatory standards for these products. 15 U.S.C.
2056a(b)(1). The mandatory standard must be ``substantially the same
as'' the voluntary standard, or may be ``more stringent than'' the
voluntary standard, if the Commission determines that more stringent
requirements would further reduce the risk of injury associated with
the product. Id.
Under this authority, the Commission adopted a mandatory rule for
sling carriers in 16 CFR part 1228. The rule incorporated by reference
ASTM F2907-15, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Sling
Carriers, into 16 CFR 1228.2(a), with an additional requirement for
warning label attachment in Sec. 1228.2(b). 82 FR 8671 (Jan. 30,
2017). At the time the
[[Page 21767]]
Commission published the final rule, ASTM F2907-15 was the current
version of the voluntary standard. ASTM has since revised the voluntary
standard, adopting ASTM F2907-19.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ASTM approved ASTM F2907-19 on November 1, 2019, and
published it in November 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CPSIA specifies the process for when a voluntary standards
organization revises a standard that the Commission incorporated by
reference in a section 104 rule. First, the voluntary standards
organization must notify the Commission of the revision. Once the
Commission receives this notification, the statute provides that the
revised voluntary standard is considered a consumer product safety
standard issued under section 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15
U.S.C. 2058), effective 180 days after the Commission received
notification of the revision (or a later date specified by the
Commission in the Federal Register). The Commission can prevent this by
notifying the organization, within 90 days of receiving notice of the
revision, that it has determined that the proposed revision does not
improve the safety of the consumer product and that it is retaining the
existing consumer product safety standard. 15 U.S.C. 2056a(b)(4)(B).
On January 8, 2020, the Commission received notification from ASTM
that it had updated the sling carrier standard. As this preamble
discusses, the revised standard includes revised requirements for test
methods, labeling, and instructional literature, which improve the
safety of sling carriers. Accordingly, the Commission is not
determining that ``the proposed revision does not improve the safety of
the consumer product.'' Therefore, under the CPSIA, ASTM F2907-19 will
replace ASTM F2907-15 in paragraph (a) of the mandatory standard for
sling carriers, effective July 6, 2020, 180 days after CPSC received
ASTM's notice.
B. Revised Standard
1. Revisions to ASTM F2907
The ASTM standard for sling carriers includes performance
requirements and test methods, as well as requirements for warning
labels and instructional literature, to address hazards to children
associated with sling carriers.
ASTM F2907-19 includes revised requirements for test methods,
labeling, and instructional literature to address two considerations in
the way sling carriers are marketed and used. These considerations are:
(1) The use of sling carriers for two occupants (rather than one), and
(2) sling carriers that are marketed to carry more than the existing
test weight of 35 pounds. ASTM F2907-19 also includes several revisions
to clarify existing requirements, as well as editorial revisions that
do not alter the substantive requirements or affect safety.
As described below, the revisions in ASTM F2907-19 more closely
reflect the conditions for which some sling carriers are marketed and
used. Under these revised requirements, sling carriers must undergo
testing that simulates the conditions under which they are marketed to
be used and are actually used. Because testing sling carriers under
their actual use conditions more accurately assesses their durability,
the Commission concludes that the revised standard improves the safety
of sling carriers. Because the Commission declines to determine that
the revision ``does not improve the safety'' of sling carriers, the
revised ASTM standard will replace F2907-15 in paragraph (a) of Sec.
1228.2. The sections below discuss the revised portions of the ASTM
standard, as well as CPSC staff's assessment of those revisions.
a. Sling Carriers for Two Occupants
ASTM F2907-15 only addresses sling carriers designed to carry one
occupant. The scope of the standard, the test procedures, and the
instructional requirements all reflect this.\2\ However, there are
sling carriers designed for two occupants, and consumers sometimes use
sling carriers for two occupants, especially twins. ASTM F2907-19
modifies the scope, testing, labeling, and instructional literature
requirements to address slings designed to contain up to two occupants.
The following revisions in ASTM F2907-19 reflect these changes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The scope of the standard (section 1) uses the singular
(e.g., ``an occupant,'' ``a child'') to refer to occupants of a
sling carrier. The test procedures (section 7), require testing with
a 35-pound weight, consistent with the weight of a single child
occupant, referenced in the scope (section 1). Instructional
literature requirements (section 9) require instructional literature
to address the following: ``Never place more than one baby in the
sling carrier.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In section 1.3, the scope covers sling carriers designed
to contain up to two occupants;
section 6.2 requires each restraint system to be tested,
accounting for the possibility of more than one restraint system;
section 7.1.5 requires two-occupant slings to be tested
with weight in both support areas concurrently;
In addition to the dynamic load requirements for single-
occupant products in section 7.2.2, there are dynamic load requirements
for two-occupant products in section 7.2.3;
in addition to the occupant-retention test requirements
for single-occupant products in section 7.5.2, there are occupant-
retention test requirements for two-occupant products in section 7.5.3;
section 8.1.4 requires labels to state the recommended
child weight for each support area, accounting for the possibility of
more than one occupant;
section 8.3.4 requires pictograms of improper and proper
infant positioning to include one or two occupants, depending on the
product design; and
the instructional literature requirements in section 9.3.9
retain the required language: ``never place more than one baby in the
sling carrier'' for single-occupant sling carriers, but provide a
modified statement for two-occupant sling carriers.
CPSC staff believes that these revisions improve the safety of
sling carriers because they require sling carriers to be tested under
the conditions for which they are marketed and used. Under ASTM F2907-
15, two-occupant sling carriers would potentially fall outside the
scope of the standard, or would be subject to test requirements that
reflect the weight or presence of a single occupant only, which is less
than the load they would bear during actual use. ASTM F2907-19 requires
sling carriers that are marketed for two occupants to undergo the same
testing as single-occupant products, but with the added conditions
associated with two occupants.
Although staff is not aware of any incidents that involve multiple
occupants in a single sling carrier,\3\ staff believes that the revised
standard provides better safety than excluding two-occupant slings from
the standard or testing them under the conditions associated with a
single occupant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Although CPSC is not aware of any incidents that involve
multiple occupants in a single sling carrier, staff identified one
fatality associated with simultaneous use of two sling carriers.
Although this is not directly relevant to two-occupant slings, we
note this incident because of its marginal relevance to the use of
sling carriers with more than one child. Both of the sling carriers
involved in that incident have been recalled because of hazards
associated with single-occupant use; so staff cannot conclude that
the use of multiple slings was a factor in the incident. Moreover,
the standard does not support simultaneous use of multiple sling
carriers, because both ASTM F2907-15 and -19 require instructional
literature to state: ``Never use/wear more than one carrier at a
time.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Sling Carriers with Recommended Maximum Weights Above 35 Pounds
ASTM F2907-15 uses 35-pound weights/masses in its test procedures,
consistent with the typical maximum
[[Page 21768]]
weight of an occupant stated in the scope section. However, some
manufacturers market sling carriers with a maximum weight above 35
pounds, to allow for a larger occupant or multiple occupants. ASTM
F2907-19 addresses this by requiring test weights to be the greater of
35 pounds, or the manufacturer's recommended maximum occupant weight.
The following revisions in ASTM F2907-19 reflect these changes:
In section 1.3, the scope notes that, although the typical
maximum weight of an occupant is 35 pounds, manufacturers may provide a
higher weight limit;
for the dynamic load test, the test mass/weight in section
7.2.2 is the greater of 35 pounds, or the manufacturer's recommended
maximum weight; and
for the occupant-retention test, the test mass stated in
section 7.5.1.3 is the greater of 35 pounds, or the manufacturer's
recommended maximum weight.
CPSC staff believes that these revisions improve the safety of
sling carriers, because they require sling carriers to be tested under
the conditions for which they are marketed and used. ASTM F2907-19
requires sling carriers that are marketed to carry more than 35 pounds
to be tested with the marketed maximum weight. This provides better
safety than testing sling carriers with 35-pound weights when they are
marketed as supporting more than that.
c. Clarifications
ASTM F2907-19 also includes several modifications to clarify,
simplify, and add detail to existing testing requirements. These
revisions do not alter the substantive requirements in the standard.
The first clarification is in section 7.1, which includes the
static load testing requirements. Section 6.1.1 of both ASTM F2907-15
and ASTM F2907-19 state that after static load testing, ``adjustable
attachment systems of the sling carrier shall not slip more than 1 in.
(25.44 mm) per element.'' Section 7.1 in both versions of the standard
describe the static load test procedure. However, a clarification in
ASTM F2907-19 directs testers to mark the sling at the beginning and
end of the testing to measure slippage.
The second clarification is in section 7.2, which includes the
dynamic load testing requirements. In ASTM F2907-15, this section
(7.2.3) provides a calculation for determining the number of cycles of
testing. In ASTM F2907-19, the number of cycles is provided in a table
(Table 1). The calculation in ASTM F2907-15 yields the numbers in the
table; the revision simply eliminates the need for calculations. A
footnote to the table also provides details about how to determine the
number of carrying positions, which is the basis for the calculation
and table. This table also replaces the same calculation previously
used in section 7.5, on occupant retention testing.
d. Editorial Revisions
ASTM F2907-19 also includes editorial revisions that do not affect
the substantive requirements in the standard. The following revisions
in ASTM F2907-19 reflect these changes:
Section 1.8 adds environmental practices to the previous
list of safety and health practices that users should consider;
section 1.9 explains that ASTM developed the standard in
accordance with principles recognized by the World Trade Organization;
the term ``manufacturer's recommended carrying position''
replaces various terms that referred to the carrying position, for
standardization;
the term ``manufacturer's recommended maximum weight''
replaces ``manufacturer's maximum recommended weight''; and
units are in forms consistent with ASTM Form and Style
(e.g., ``1 in. to 2 in.'' replaces ``1 to 2 in.'').
2. More Stringent Requirement for Label Attachment
The current mandatory standard incorporates by reference ASTM
F2907-15, but includes an additional requirement for label attachment.
Specifically, 16 CFR 1228.2(b) requires that ``warning labels that are
attached to the fabric with seams shall remain in contact with the
fabric around the entire perimeter of the label, when the sling is in
all manufacturer recommended use positions.'' The Commission added this
requirement to address comments expressing concerns that consumers
would accidentally or intentionally remove or damage, or otherwise
alter, ``free-hanging'' labels that are attached to a product at only
one end of the label. The Commission explained that removing or
altering these labels ``would eliminate the potential safety benefit of
the label,'' and accordingly, adopted the additional attachment
requirement. 82 FR 8671, 8679 (Jan. 30, 2017).
ASTM F2907-19 does not include this additional requirement. CPSC
staff believes that this requirement remains appropriate. Therefore,
the Commission is retaining this additional requirement in 16 CFR
1228.2(b).
C. Incorporation by Reference
Section 1228.2(a) of the direct final rule incorporates by
reference ASTM F2907-19. The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has
regulations regarding incorporation by reference. 1 CFR part 51. Under
these regulations, agencies must discuss, in the preamble to a final
rule, ways in which the material the agency incorporates by reference
is reasonably available to interested parties, and how interested
parties can obtain the material. In addition, the preamble to the final
rule must summarize the material. 1 CFR 51.5(b).
In accordance with the OFR regulations, B. Revised Standard of this
preamble summarizes the major provisions of ASTM F2907-19 that the
Commission incorporates by reference into 16 CFR part 1228. The
standard is reasonably available to interested parties and interested
parties may purchase a copy of ASTM F2907-19 from ASTM International,
100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
USA; phone; 610-832-9585; www.astm.org. A copy of the standard can also
be inspected at CPSC's Division of the Secretariat, U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda,
MD 20814, telephone 301-504-7923. In addition, once the rule becomes
effective, a read-only copy of the standard will be available for
viewing on the ASTM website at: https://www.astm.org/READINGLIBRARY/.
D. Certification
Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA; 15 U.S.C.
2051-2089) requires manufacturers of products subject to a consumer
product safety rule under the CPSA, or to a similar rule, ban,
standard, or regulation under any other act enforced by the Commission,
to certify that the products comply with all applicable CPSC
requirements. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a). Such certification must be based on a
test of each product, or on a reasonable testing program, or, for
children's products, on tests on a sufficient number of samples by a
third party conformity assessment body accredited by CPSC to test
according to the applicable requirements. As noted, standards issued
under section 104(b)(1)(B) of the CPSIA are ``consumer product safety
standards.'' Thus, they are subject to the testing and certification
requirements of section 14 of the CPSA.
Because sling carriers are children's products, a CPSC-accepted
third party
[[Page 21769]]
conformity assessment body must test samples of the products. These
products also must comply with all other applicable CPSC requirements,
such as the lead content requirements in section 101 of the CPSIA,\4\
the phthalates prohibitions in section 108 of the CPSIA,\5\ the
tracking label requirements in section 14(a)(5) of the CPSA,\6\ and the
consumer registration form requirements in section 104(d) of the
CPSIA.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 1278a.
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 2057c.
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(5).
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 2056a(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Notice of Requirements
In accordance with section 14(a)(3)(B)(iv) of the CPSIA, the
Commission previously published a notice of requirements (NOR) for
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing
sling carriers. 82 FR 8671 (Jan. 30, 2017). The NOR provided the
criteria and process for CPSC to accept accreditation of third party
conformity assessment bodies for testing sling carriers to 16 CFR part
1228. The NORs for all mandatory standards for durable infant or
toddler products are listed in the Commission's rule, ``Requirements
Pertaining to Third Party Conformity Assessment Bodies'' in 16 CFR part
1112.
Under the revised provisions in ASTM F2907-19, testing of affected
products involves increased test weights and testing of more occupant
positions. However, the test methodologies remain the same.
Accordingly, the revisions do not significantly change the way that
third party conformity assessment bodies test these products for
compliance with the sling carriers standard. Laboratories will begin
testing to the new standard when ASTM F2907-19 goes into effect, and
the existing accreditations that the Commission has accepted for
testing to this standard will cover testing to the revised standard.
Therefore, the Commission considers the existing CPSC-accepted
laboratories for testing to ASTM F2907-15 to be capable of testing to
ASTM F2907-19 as well. Accordingly, the existing NOR for this standard
will remain in place, and CPSC-accepted third party conformity
assessment bodies are expected to update the scope of the testing
laboratories' accreditations to reflect the revised standard in the
normal course of renewing their accreditations.
F. Direct Final Rule Process
The Commission is issuing this rule as a direct final rule.
Although the Administrative Procedure Act (APA; 5 U.S.C. 551-559)
generally requires agencies to provide notice of a rule and an
opportunity for interested parties to comment on it, section 553 of the
APA provides an exception when the agency, ``for good cause finds,''
that notice and comment are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary
to the public interest.'' Id. 553(b)(B).
Under the process set out in section 104(b)(4)(B) of the CPSIA,
when ASTM revises a standard that the Commission has previously
incorporated by reference under section 104(b)(1)(B) of the CPSIA, that
revision will become the new CPSC standard, unless the Commission
determines that ASTM's revision does not improve the safety of the
product. Thus, unless the Commission makes such a determination, the
ASTM revision becomes CPSC's standard by operation of law. The
Commission is allowing ASTM F2907-19 to become CPSC's new standard. The
purpose of this direct final rule is merely to update the reference in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) so that it reflects accurately
the version of the standard that takes effect by statute. The rule
updates the reference in the CFR, but under the terms of the CPSIA,
ASTM F2907-19 takes effect as the new CPSC standard for sling carriers,
even if the Commission did not issue this rule. Thus, public comments
would not impact the substantive changes to the standard or the effect
of the revised standard as a consumer product safety standard under
section 104(b) of the CPSIA. Under these circumstances, notice and
comment are not necessary.
In Recommendation 95-4, the Administrative Conference of the United
States (ACUS) endorses direct final rulemaking as an appropriate
procedure to expedite rules that are noncontroversial and that are not
expected to generate significant adverse comment. See 60 FR 43108 (Aug.
18, 1995). ACUS recommends that agencies use the direct final rule
process when they act under the ``unnecessary'' prong of the good cause
exemption in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). Consistent with the ACUS
recommendation, the Commission is publishing this rule as a direct
final rule because CPSC does not expect any significant adverse
comments.
Unless CPSC receives a significant adverse comment within 30 days
of this notification, the rule will become effective on July 6, 2020.
In accordance with ACUS's recommendation, the Commission considers a
significant adverse comment to be ``one where the commenter explains
why the rule would be inappropriate,'' including an assertion
challenging ``the rule's underlying premise or approach,'' or a claim
that the rule ``would be ineffective or unacceptable without change.''
60 FR 43108, 43111. As noted, this rule merely updates a reference in
the CFR to reflect a change that occurs by statute.
If the Commission receives a significant adverse comment, the
Commission would withdraw this direct final rule. Depending on the
comment and other circumstances, the Commission may then incorporate
the adverse comment into a subsequent direct final rule or publish a
notice of proposed rulemaking, providing an opportunity for public
comment.
G. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601-612) generally
requires agencies to review proposed and final rules for their
potential economic impact on small entities, including small
businesses, and prepare regulatory flexibility analyses. 5 U.S.C. 603,
604. The RFA applies to any rule that is subject to notice and comment
procedures under section 553 of the APA. Id. As discussed in F. Direct
Final Rule Process of this preamble, the Commission has determined that
notice and the opportunity to comment are unnecessary for this rule.
Therefore, the RFA does not apply. CPSC also notes the limited nature
of this document, which merely updates the incorporation by reference
to reflect the mandatory CPSC standard that takes effect under section
104 of the CPSIA.
H. Paperwork Reduction Act
The current mandatory standard for sling carriers includes
requirements for marking, labeling, and instructional literature that
constitute a ``collection of information,'' as defined in the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). The revised mandatory
standard does not alter these requirements. The Commission took the
steps required by the PRA for information collections when it adopted
16 CFR part 1228, including obtaining approval and a control number.
Because the information collection is unchanged, the revision does not
affect the information collection requirements or approval related to
the standard.
I. Environmental Considerations
The Commission's regulations provide a categorical exclusion for
the Commission's rules from any requirement to prepare an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact statement where they ``have
little or no potential for affecting the human environment.'' 16
[[Page 21770]]
CFR 1021.5(c)(2). This rule falls within the categorical exclusion, so
no environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is
required.
J. Preemption
Section 26(a) of the CPSA provides that where a consumer product
safety standard is in effect and applies to a product, no state or
political subdivision of a state may either establish or continue in
effect a requirement dealing with the same risk of injury unless the
state requirement is identical to the Federal standard. 15 U.S.C.
2075(a). Section 26(c) of the CPSA also provides that states or
political subdivisions of states may apply to CPSC for an exemption
from this preemption under certain circumstances. Section 104(b) of the
CPSIA deems rules issued under that provision ``consumer product safety
standards.'' Therefore, once a rule issued under section 104 of the
CPSIA takes effect, it will preempt in accordance with section 26(a) of
the CPSA.
K. Effective Date
Under the procedure set forth in section 104(b)(4)(B) of the CPSIA,
when a voluntary standard organization revises a standard that the
Commission adopted as a mandatory standard, the revision becomes the
CPSC standard within 180 days of notification to the Commission, unless
the Commission determines that the revision does not improve the safety
of the product, or the Commission sets a later date in the Federal
Register. 15 U.S.C. 2056a(b)(4)(B). The Commission is taking neither of
those actions with respect to the standard for sling carriers.
Therefore, ASTM F2907-19 automatically will take effect as the new
mandatory standard for sling carriers on July 6, 2020, 180 days after
the Commission received notice of the revision on January 8, 2020. As a
direct final rule, unless the Commission receives a significant adverse
comment within 30 days of this notification, the rule will become
effective on July 6, 2020.
L. Congressional Review Act
The Congressional Review Act (CRA; 5 U.S.C. 801-808) states that,
before a rule may take effect, the agency issuing the rule must submit
the rule, and certain related information, to each House of Congress
and the Comptroller General. 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1). The submission must
indicate whether the rule is a ``major rule.'' The CRA states that the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) determines whether
a rule qualifies as a ``major rule.''
Pursuant to the CRA, this rule does not qualify as a ``major
rule,'' as defined in 5 U.S.C. 804(2). To comply with the CRA, the
Office of the General Counsel will submit the required information to
each House of Congress and the Comptroller General.
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1228
Consumer protection, Imports, Incorporation by reference, Infants
and children, Labeling, Law enforcement, Toys.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Commission amends 16
CFR chapter II as follows:
PART 1228--SAFETY STANDARD FOR SLING CARRIERS
0
1. Revise the authority citation for part 1228 to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 104, Pub. L. 110-314, 122 Stat. 3016 (15 U.S.C.
2056a).
0
2. Revise Sec. 1228.2 to read as follows:
Sec. 1228.2 Requirements for sling carriers.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each sling
carrier must comply with all applicable provisions of ASTM F2907-19,
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Sling Carriers, approved on
November 1, 2019. The Director of the Federal Register approves this
incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51. You may obtain a copy of this ASTM standard from ASTM
International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken,
PA 19428-2959; www.astm.org. A read-only copy of the standard is
available for viewing on the ASTM website at https://www.astm.org/READINGLIBRARY/. You may inspect a copy at the Division of the
Secretariat, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330
East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone 301-504-7923, or at
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email
[email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
(b) In addition to complying with section 5.7.2 of ASTM F2907-19,
comply with the following:
(1) 5.7.3 Warning labels that are attached to the fabric with seams
shall remain in contact with the fabric around the entire perimeter of
the label, when the sling is in all manufacturer recommended use
positions.
(2) [Reserved]
Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-07522 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P