DATES: This rule will become effective October 2, 2017. The incorporation by reference of the publication listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of October 2, 2017.
Background: On August 14, 2015, the Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) for infant bath tubs. 80 FR 48769. The NPR proposed to incorporate by reference the voluntary standard, ASTM F2670–13, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Tubs, with several modifications to strengthen the standard, as a mandatory consumer product safety rule.
The NPR referenced ASTM F2670–13, with the following modifications to the ASTM standard to adequately address hazard patterns identified in the incident data: 1. Revised latching or locking mechanism testing protocol. 2. Revised static load testing protocol. 3. Revised content of the warnings, markings, and instructions: (a) Changed the text in the drowning warnings, and (b) added fall hazard warning. 4. Specified a standard format (including black text on a white background, table design, bullet points, and black border) for the warnings on the product, on the packaging, and in the instructions. 5. Required that the safety alert symbol and the word ‘‘WARNING’’ on the drowning hazard label be ‘‘at least 0.4 in. (10mm) high unless stated otherwise, shall be the same size, and shall be in bold capital letters. The remainder of the text shall be in characters whose upper case shall be at least 0.2 in. (5 mm) high unless stated otherwise.’’
ASTM F2670-17 has made modifications to the voluntary standard consistent with the proposed modifications in the NPR. Therefore the Commission has adopted the revised ASTM as the mandatory Consumer Product Safety Standard without modification. The Commission Staff is continuing to work with ASTM regarding a standard relating to infant bath slings.
