US CPSC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Crib Bumpers/Liners

On April 3,2020, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved the publication of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for a safety standard for Crib Bumpers/Liners (16 CFR 1240). The proposed rule is in response to the direction under section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and based on voluntary standard ASTM F1917-12 (Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories) with substantial modifications.

The proposed modifications are as follows:

• Add a “crib bumper/liner” definition
• Revise the crib bumper thickness requirement to apply to all crib bumpers and liners, and revise the test method by adding a minimum rate at which the bumper must pass through the test fixture and a surface finish requirement of 1.6 Ra for the text fixture
• Add a crib bumper firmness requirement and test method
• Add a crib bumper airflow requirement and test method
• Replace the existing requirement for crib bumpers to be capable of being secured at certain locations with a new crib bumper attachment requirement and test method
• Revise the strength requirement for crib bumper ties to apply to all attachment means and add new strength requirements and test methods for decorative components and seams
• Revise the crib bumper warning content, format, and placement requirements; add warning permanence requirements and test methods; and add a requirement for additional crib bumper markings
• Add crib bumper instructional literature requirements

The NPR defines crib bumper/liner as “any product intended to be placed against any portion of the interior perimeter of a crib, and that reduces or eliminates an infant's access to the crib sides, slats, spindles, or the spaces between these components”.

The commission invites interested parties to submit their comments by June 17, 2020.

Copy of the standard can be purchased at https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/F1917-12.htm

Notice of Proposed Rule 16 CFR 1240: [https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/03/2020-06142/safety-standard-for-crib-bumpersliners]

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