Consumer Product Safety Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 101(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (``CPSIA'') provides that, as of August 14, 2011, children's products may not contain more than 100 parts per million (``ppm'') of lead unless the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC,'' ``Commission,'' or ``we'') determines that such a limit is not technologically feasible. The Commission may make such a determination only after notice and a hearing and after analyzing the public health protections associated with substantially reducing lead in children's products. Through this notice, the Commission is announcing that it will conduct a public hearing to receive views from all interested parties about the technological feasibility of meeting the 100 ppm lead content limit for children's products and associated public health considerations.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is issuing a notice of requirements that provides the criteria and process for Commission acceptance of accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing pursuant to specific CPSC regulations relating to full-size and non-full-size baby cribs. The Commission is issuing this notice of requirements pursuant to section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(3)(B)(vi)).

Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC,'' ``Commission,'' or ``we'') 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 issuing safety standards for full-size and non-full-size baby cribs in response to the direction under section 104(b) of the CPSIA.\1\ Section 104(c) of the CPSIA specifies that the crib standards will cover used as well as new cribs. The crib standards will apply to anyone who manufactures, distributes, or contracts to sell a crib; to child care facilities, family child care homes, and others holding themselves out to be knowledgeable about cribs; to anyone who leases, sublets, or otherwise places a crib in the stream of commerce; and to owners and operators of places of public accommodation affecting commerce.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing that the Commission has extended, by 60 days, the date by which manufacturers (including importers) of youth all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) must submit sufficient samples of such products to a third party conformity assessment body approved by the Commission for testing and, based on such testing, issue a certificate that the products manufactured after the deadline comply with certain CPSC regulations relating to ATVs. The extension is granted because there are an insufficient number of third party conformity assessment bodies accredited by the Commission to permit testing and certification under the original schedule.\1\

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).\1\ Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with Winter Bee, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $200,000.00, to be suspended except for $40,000.00, to be paid over a period of 20 months as specified in the Order.

The Commission announces the third meeting of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes. 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 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 and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the proposed collection of information for CPSC-sponsored prize competitions or contests.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is issuing a notice of requirements that provides the criteria and process for Commission acceptance of accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing of children's sleepwear pursuant to 16 CFR parts 1615 and 1616, the CPSC regulations under the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) relating to the flammability of children's sleepwear. The Commission is issuing this notice of requirements pursuant to section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(3)(B)(vi).

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing a teleconference of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes. 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 CHAP will discuss possible risk assessment approaches for phthalates and phthalate substitutes.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC,'' ``Commission,'' or ``we'') is proposing to amend its bicycle regulations. The proposed amendments would make minor changes to certain requirements to reflect the development of new technologies, designs, and features in bicycles and clarify that certain provisions or testing requirements do not apply to specific bicycles or bicycle parts. The proposal also would delete an outdated reference and correct typographical errors in the bicycle reflector performance test.

In the Federal Register of March 15, 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') issued a proposed interpretive rule that would interpret the term ``public accommodations facility'' as used in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (``VGB Act'' or ``Act'') as ``an inn, hotel, motel, or other place of lodging, except for an establishment located within a building that contains not more than five rooms for rent or hire and that is actually occupied by the proprietor of such establishment as the residence of such proprietor'' (75 FR 12167). The Commission is withdrawing the March 15, 2010 proposed interpretive rule and, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, is issuing a new proposed interpretive rule with a 60-day comment period which would interpret ``public accommodations facility'' as ``an inn, hotel, motel, or other place of lodging, including but not limited to, rental units rented on a bi-weekly or weekly basis.''

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing that a proposed 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 (``PRA'').