Consumer Product Safety Commission September 3, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In the Federal Register of December 29, 2003 (68 FR 74878), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'') published a notice of proposed rulemaking under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'') to reduce the unreasonable risk of injury associated with bath seats. On August 14, 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') was enacted. Section 104(b) of the CPSIA requires the Commission to promulgate consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products, which are to be ``substantially the same as'' applicable voluntary standards (or more stringent requirements if they would further reduce the risk of injury associated with the product). Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, the Commission is proposing a safety standard for infant bath seats in response to section 104(b) of the CPSIA. The rulemaking initiated under the FHSA is superseded by section 104(b) of the CPSIA. Accordingly, the Commission has terminated the infant bath seat rulemaking initiated under the FHSA.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is proposing to revoke certain regulations pertaining to baby-bouncers, walker-jumpers, baby-walkers, and similar products. CPSC is taking this action because the regulations, which originally were issued in 1971, are outdated and do not provide the degree of safety that is provided by currently manufactured baby-walkers that comply with a more effective voluntary standard. This action also will eliminate confusion about whether manufacturers should certify that their products comply with these regulations or with a new mandatory safety standard for baby-walkers proposed elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.