The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a final rule establishing requirements for third party testing laboratories (“conformity assessment bodies”) that test children’s products. Approved laboratories are allowed to test children’s products in support of Children’s Product Certificates (CPC) required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The final rule lays out general requirements for laboratories, establishes procedures for acceptance of lab accreditations, and sets consequences for their noncompliance. The final rule also amends CPSC’s regulation on inspections, as well as audit requirements for the laboratories. The final rule is effective June 10, and will apply to products manufactured on or after that date.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is proposing to amend its supplemental definition of “strong sanitizer” under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). The FHSA requires cautionary labeling of some household products to alert consumers to hazards, including on products that are strong sanitizers. The FHSA contains the definition of strong sanitizer, but CPSC’s proposed rule would amend regulations containing supplemental definitions of terms included in the statutory definition. Comments on the proposed rule are due by about May 27.

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls March 7 (country of manufacture in parentheses):

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls March 5 (country of manufacture in parentheses):

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls Feb. 28 (country of manufacture in parentheses):

Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum will not seek renomination when her term expires in October 2013, said CPSC. According to remarks at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization annual meeting Feb. 28, Tenenbaum will stay on as chairman until her successor is nominated and confirmed by the Senate. CPSC posted a list of achievements during Tenenbaum’s term as chairman here in conjunction with the announcement.

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls Feb. 27 (country of manufacture in parentheses):

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls Feb. 26:

Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls Feb. 21: