CPSC to Hold Second Open Meeting on CPSIA Lead Issues, Etc.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a second meeting that is open to the public on October 21, 2009 to discuss the following Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA1) issues (four of which were discussed at the October 14, 2009 CPSC public meeting):
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Matters Pending Commission Decision:
lead content exclusion request. The Commissioners are to vote (between Oct. 19-23) on the first request for a CPSIA lead content exclusion that will be addressed by the full Commission. The previous meeting's discussion indicated that some CPSC Commissioners were considering a de minimis approach to lead content exclusion requests. The request is for brass wheel parts of toy tractors, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/15/09 news, 09101510, for BP summary of the October 14, 2009 meeting's discussion.)
lead determination guidance. The Commissioners are to vote (between Oct. 19-23) on a guidance document to clarify that materials/products determined in CPSC's August 2009 final rule to not exceed the CPSIA lead content limits2 do not need any lead content testing or certification, despite retailer demands. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/15/09 news, 09101515, for BP summary of previous meeting.)
lab accreditation requirements for lead. The Commission will soon be voting on the lab accreditation requirements that must be met for third-party labs to test children's products for CPSIA lead content. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/15/09 news, 09101599 2, for BP summary.)
ANPR for ROVs. The Commission will soon be voting on whether to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to address the safety of Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs). (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/13/09 news, 09101320, for BP summary of the draft ANPR.)
Other Matters:
Electronic devices - final rule. In February 2009, CPSC issued aninterim final rule that exempted certain accessible components of children's electronic devices from the CPSIA lead content limits as it was not technologically feasible for such components to comply. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/13/09 news, 09021305, for BP summary of the interim final rule.)
Live Webcast of Meeting Available
A live webcast of the meeting can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov/webcast/index.html
1Enacted as Public Law 110-314 on August 14, 2008.
2The CPSIA imposes progressive limits on lead content in consumer products designed or intended primarily for children 12 and under. Since August 14, 2009, the allowable lead content of children's products has been 300 parts per million. The CPSIA also mandates certification and testing by a CPSC-accredited third party lab to show compliance with the lead content limits. While CPSC announced a one year stay of enforcement of much of this CPSIA testing and certification until February 10, 2010, it did not stay underlying product compliance.
CPSC meeting notice (FR Pub 10/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24899.pdf