Consumer Product Safety Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``the PRA''), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on a proposed request for extension of approval of a collection of information from manufacturers and importers of multi-purpose lighters.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is proposing a rule to specify that children's upper outerwear garments in sizes 2T to 12 or the equivalent that have neck or hood drawstrings, and in sizes 2T to 16 or the equivalent that have waist or bottom drawstrings that do not meet specified criteria, have characteristics that constitute substantial product hazards. Items of children's upper outerwear with these features have been involved in a number of deaths and serious injuries from entanglement of the drawstrings with items such as playground slides, cribs, and school buses. The proposed rule would enhance understanding in the industry about how the Commission views such garments and would facilitate the process of obtaining the appropriate corrective action when such garments are found in commerce.

It is the policy of the Commission to publish settlements which it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act in the Federal Register in accordance with the terms of 16 CFR 1118.20(e). Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $50,000.00.

Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') to promulgate consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. These standards are to be ``substantially the same as'' applicable voluntary standards or more stringent than the voluntary standard if the Commission concludes that more stringent requirements would further reduce the risk of injury associated with the product. The Commission is proposing a more stringent safety standard for bassinets and cradles that will further reduce the risk of injury associated with these products.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission,'' ``CPSC'' or ``we'') is issuing its interpretation of the term ``unblockable drain'' as used in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (``VGB Act'').

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) announces the first meeting of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on Phthalates. The Commission appointed this CHAP to study the effects on children's health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and child care articles, pursuant to section 108 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (Pub. L. 110-314).

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'') to issue a final rule providing its interpretation of the civil penalty factors found in the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA''), and the Flammable Fabrics Act (``FFA''), as amended by section 217 of the CPSIA. These statutory provisions require the Commission to consider certain factors in determining the amount of any civil penalty to seek. The Commission published an interim final rule on September 1, 2009, providing its interpretation of the statutory factors and seeking public comment. The Commission is now issuing a final rule interpreting the statutory factors.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that a proposed new collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'') is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of December 29, 2009 (74 FR 68668). The document issued a final rule under section 104(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') requiring manufacturers of durable infant or toddler products to establish and maintain a system for consumers to register their products with the manufacturer.