Consumer Product Safety Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission publishes in the Federal Register any settlement that it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act. Published below is a provisionally accepted Settlement Agreement with Clawfoot Supply, LLC containing a civil penalty in the amount of six million ($6,000,000), subject to the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement. The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to provisionally accept the proposed Settlement Agreement and Order pertaining to Clawfoot Supply, LLC. Commissioner Feldman issued a statement with his vote which can be found here: https://www.CPSC.gov.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) is proposing to amend the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles. The proposed revisions would clarify existing provisions, expand permissible equipment and materials, and update equipment requirements that are outdated. The Commission is providing an opportunity for interested parties to present written and oral comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR). Both written and oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

In September 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) published a consumer product safety standard for infant bouncer seats under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The standard incorporated by reference the ASTM voluntary standard for infant bouncer seats that had been adopted earlier in 2017 and was in effect at the time. ASTM updated the mandatory standard for infant bouncer seats in 2019 and again in 2022. Consistent with the CPSIA's process for updating mandatory standards for durable infant or toddler products that are based on a voluntary standard, when the voluntary standards organization revises the standard, this direct final rule updates the mandatory standard for infant bouncer seats to incorporate by reference ASTM's 2022 version of the voluntary standard.

The Commission publishes in the Federal Register any settlement that it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act. Published below is a provisionally accepted Settlement Agreement with Segway Powersports, Inc., containing a civil penalty in the amount of $5 million, with all but $1.25 million suspended, subject to the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has approved a Draft Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 and CPSC seeks comments from the public on this document as part of its strategic planning process.

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 2015 ASTM voluntary standard for sling carriers that was in effect at the time and supplemented it with an additional requirement for warning label attachment. The CPSIA sets forth a process for updating mandatory standards for durable infant or toddler products that are based on a voluntary standard when the voluntary standards organization revises the standard. Consistent with the CPSIA's update process, the Commission issued a direct final rule in April 2020, that revised the incorporation by reference for the mandatory standard for sling carriers to reflect ASTM's revised 2019 voluntary standard, while retaining the additional requirement for warning label attachment. In November 2021, ASTM approved a revision to the voluntary standard for sling carriers, ASTM F2907-21. However, ASTM delayed notification to the CPSC until a revised version of the standard was published in April 2022, ASTM F2907-22. On June 3, 2022, through publication in the Federal Register, the Commission provided notice of the availability of the revised standard and sought comments on the effect of the revisions on the safety of the standard for sling carriers. No comments were received. Consistent with the CPSIA's update process, this direct final rule again updates the mandatory standard for sling carriers to incorporate by reference ASTM's 2022 version of the voluntary standard, while retaining the additional requirement for warning label attachment.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requests comments on a proposed extension of approval of a collection of information regarding a form used to verify whether pools and spas are in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) previously approved the collection of information under OMB Control No. 3041-0142. CPSC will consider all comments received in response to this notice before requesting an extension of approval of this collection of information from OMB.

In this document, the Commission publishes its semiannual regulatory flexibility agenda. In addition, this document includes an agenda of regulations that the Commission expects to develop or review during the next year. This document meets the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (Commission or CPSC) mandatory rule, Safety Standard for Gates and Enclosures, incorporates by reference ASTM F1004-21, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Expansion Gates and Expandable Enclosures. The Commission has received notice of a revision to this incorporated voluntary standard. CPSC seeks comment on whether the revision improves the safety of the consumer products covered by the standard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) will conduct a public hearing to receive views from all interested parties about the Commission's agenda and priorities for fiscal year 2023, which begins on October 1, 2022, and for fiscal year 2024, which begins on October 1, 2023. We invite members of the public to participate. Written comments and oral presentations concerning the Commission's agenda and priorities for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 will become part of the public record. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's hearing will be held virtually as a CPSC webinar meeting. All attendees should preregister for the webinar. To preregister for the webinar, please visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 5493266066878024208 and fill in the information. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Detailed instructions for the hearing participants and other interested parties will be made available on the CPSC website on the public calendar: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Public-Calendar.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) will be providing an opportunity for interested parties to present oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) the Commission issued regarding a safety standard for clothing storage units (CSUs). Any oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) will be providing an opportunity for interested parties to present oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) the Commission issued regarding a safety standard for magnets. Any oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

Pursuant to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is issuing this final rule establishing a safety standard for crib mattresses, which includes full-size and non-full-size crib mattresses, as well as after-market mattresses for play yards and non-full-size cribs. CPSC is also finalizing an amendment to its regulations regarding third party conformity assessment bodies, to include the safety standard for crib mattresses in the list of notices of requirements (NORs) along with an amendment to the consumer registration rule, to identify crib mattresses as a durable infant or toddler product subject to consumer registration requirements.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has determined preliminarily that there is an unreasonable risk of injury and death, particularly to children, associated with clothing storage units (CSUs) tipping over. To address this risk, the Commission proposes a rule addressing the stability of CSUs. Specifically, the proposed rule would require CSUs to be tested for stability, exceed minimum stability requirements, be marked and labeled with safety information, and bear a hang tag providing performance and technical data about the stability of the CSU. The Commission issues this proposed rule under the authority of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The Commission requests comments about all aspects of this notice, including the risk of injury, the proposed requirements, alternatives to the proposed rule, and the economic impacts of the proposed rule and alternatives.

In this document, the Commission publishes its semiannual regulatory flexibility agenda. In addition, this document includes an agenda of regulatory actions that the Commission expects to be under development or review by the agency during the next year. This document meets the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866.

To address the risk of strangulation to young children associated with certain window covering cords, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing a rule to deem that one or more of the following readily observable characteristics of window coverings present a substantial product hazard (SPH) under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA): The presence of hazardous operating cords on stock window coverings, the presence of hazardous inner cords on stock and custom window coverings, or the absence of a manufacturer label on stock and custom window coverings. The proposed rule would amend the Substantial Product Hazard List, which lists products that the Commission has determined present an SPH if the products have or lack specified characteristics that are readily observable, the hazards have been addressed by a voluntary standard, the voluntary standard has been effective in reducing the risk of injury associated with the product, and the products substantially comply with the voluntary standard.

A system for the US CPSC's Consumer Ombudsman to track public inquiries.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requests comments on a proposed extension of approval of information collection regarding notification requirements for coal and wood burning appliances. The CPSC will consider all comments received in response to this notice, before requesting an extension of this collection of information from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In 1990, Congress enacted statutory amendments to adjust the maximum civil penalty amounts authorized under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), and the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA). On August 14, 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) increased the maximum civil penalty amounts to $100,000 for each violation and $15,000,000 for any related series of violations. The CPSIA tied the effective date of the new amounts to the earlier of the date on which final regulations are issued or 1 year after August 14, 2008. The new amounts became effective on August 14, 2009. The CPSIA also revised the starting date, from December 1, 1994 to December 1, 2011, and December 1 of each fifth calendar year, thereafter, on which the Commission must prescribe and publish in the Federal Register, the schedule of maximum authorized penalties. On November 23, 2016, the CPSC published increased maximum authorized civil penalty amounts of $110,000 for each violation and $16,025,000 for any related series of violations. As calculated in accordance with the amendments, the new amounts are $120,000 for each violation and $17,150,000 for any related series of violations.