Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : EIC 111/2/21
30 December 2009
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 665/2009
US : Final Rule on Requirements for Consumer Registration
of Durable Infant or Toddler Products
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued in the Federal Register (FR) notice of 29 December 2009 a final rule on requirements for consumer registration of durable infant or toddler products under Section 104(d) of the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The scope of the final rule will cover 18 product categories specifically identified in the rule. The compliance dates for these 18 product categories are detailed in paragraph 3 below. A copy (pdf format) of the FR notice is appended to this circular for reference.
DETAILS
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Section 104(d) of the CPSIA requires the CPSC to promulgate a final consumer product safety rule that requires manufacturers of durable infant or toddler products to (i) provide with each product a postage-paid consumer registration form; (ii) keep records of consumers who register such products with the manufacturer; and (iii) permanently place the manufacturer's name and contact information, model name and number, and the date of manufacture on each such product. The CPSC published its proposed rule in the FR notice of 29 June 2009 to seek public comments. After review of comments received, it now issues the final rule. Details of the final rule such as the scope, general requirements, text and format for the registration form, requirements for website/alternative email registration, and recordkeeping and notification requirements are set out in the FR notice.
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The final rule sets a 180-day compliance date (i.e. 28 June 2010) for the 12 product categories specifically listed by example in the statutory definition of durable infant or toddler product: (i) full-size cribs and non-full-size cribs; (ii) toddler beds; (iii) high chairs, booster chairs, and hook-on chairs; (iv) bath seats; (v) gates and other enclosures for confining a child; (vi) play yards; (vii) stationary activity centers; (viii) infant carriers; (ix) strollers; (x) walkers; (xi) swings; and (xii) bassinets and cradles. The CPSC is providing a one-year compliance date (i.e. 29 December 2010) for the six products the final rule adds to the listed products: (i) children's folding chairs; (ii) changing tables; (iii) infant bouncers; (iv) infant bath tubs; (v) bed rails; and (vi) infant slings.
ENQUIRIES
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Separately, the CPSC has prepared and posted to its website a brief summary and a list of frequently asked questions related to the CPSIA requirements for durable infant or toddler products which are available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect104.html. The CPSC has also prepared a Chinese webpage
(http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/intl/newusreq_ch.html) for information. Traders are strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements. -
For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Bonny CHAO)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
| Note : | While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same. |