On June 29, 2011, the Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission questioned staff on their recommendation that the 100 ppm lead content limit in children’s products take effect as mandated on August 14, 2011. The staff is suggesting that the limit take effect, because it cannot recommend a determination that it is “not technologically feasible for a product or product category to comply with the limit.”
The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission are scheduled to consider on July 6, 2011 and then vote on July 13 on a draft notice that would establish the requirements for third party labs to be accredited to test toys pursuant to the ASTM toy standards, F 963-08 (all toys) and section 4.27 from ASTM F 963-07ε1 (on toy chests), which were made mandatory by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). Toys manufactured 90 days after publication of the notice would have to be third-party tested and certified as complying with the standards (with certain listed exceptions). Therefore, CPSC states that publication of the lab accreditation notice would have the effect of lifting the stay of enforcement on CPSIA testing and certification that has been effect for the ASTM toy standards since February 2009. CPSC calendar announcing the vote available here.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission published notice of the following voluntary recalls on June 29-30, 2011:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a reminder that June 28, 2011 marked the day that the new crib standards took effect. Therefore, on and after June 28, all importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers must offer only cribs that meet the CPSC's new full-size and non-full-size crib standards. According to CPSC, the new standard: (1) stops the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs; (2) strengthens mattress supports and crib slats; (3) requires crib hardware to be more durable; and (4) makes safety testing more rigorous. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/28/10 news, 10122813, for BP summary of the final rule on new crib standards.)
The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have voted unanimously (5-0) to publish, with one amendment, a draft “15(j)” final rule1 for drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission published notice of the following voluntary recalls on June 28, 2011:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted statements by all five Commissioners on the Commission's recent (3-2) vote to deny a request by certain small retailers to extend the June 28, 2011 compliance date of CPSC's new crib standards. Commissioners Nord and Northup express confusion over the majority's decision to extend the compliance date for certain groups such as child care centers, places of public accommodation, and crib rental companies, but not for the retailers. Chairman Tenenbaum stated that extending the date would be unfair to the many retailers who sold their non-compliant cribs at reduced costs in order to clear their inventory in preparation for the rule.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will conduct a public hearing in Bethesda, MD on July 20, 2011 to receive views from all interested parties about its agenda and priorities for fiscal year 2013, which begins on October 1, 2012. Last year, participants suggested that in FY 2012, CPSC focus on lifting the stay of enforcement on certain testing and certification requirements, address cadmium hazards, establish a corded window covering standard, strengthen the wearing apparel standard, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/12/10 news, 10081214, for BP summary of the August 2010 meeting on FY 2012 priorities.) The public may attend the meeting or watch it live via webcast here.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a Federal Register notice announcing the fifth meeting of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates on July 25-26, 2011. The CHAP is studying the effects on children's health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and child care articles. Its findings will be used to inform a future CPSC rulemaking on the topic, including whether to continue the interim bans on three phthalates in certain children's products, whether additional phthalates or phthalate alternatives should be prohibited, etc. The meeting will be webcast here. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/17/11 news, 11061728, for BP summary of CPSC's previous announcement of the meeting.)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted a provisionally-accepted settlement agreement containing a civil penalty of $450,000 to settle staff allegations that Viking Range Corporation knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by statute, a hazardous defect with its refrigerator door hinges.