Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : EIC 111/2
23 December 2008
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 655/2008
US : Final Rule on Exemption for Boston Billow Nursing Pillow and Substantially Similar Nursing Pillows from the Ban on Infant Cushions/Pillows
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published in the Federal Register (FR) notice of 19 December 2008 a final rule to exempt the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow and substantially similar nursing pillows from the CPSC's regulations banning infant cushions/pillows set forth in the CPSC's regulations at Title 16, Code of Federal Regulations Section 1500.18(a)(16)(i) (16 CFR 1500.18(a)(16)(i)). The final rule becomes effective on 19 December 2008. A copy (pdf format) of the FR notice is appended to this circular for reference.
DETAILS
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The trade was informed via Commercial Information Circular No. 389/2006 that the CPSC issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on 27 September 2006, to assess whether a rulemaking was necessary to address any unreasonable risk of injury or death which may be associated with infant cushions/pillows. After review of the comments, incident reports and other available information, the CPSC determined there was insufficient data or product information on infant cushions or pillow-like products, other than the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow, to proceed with further rulemaking on those products at this time. Accordingly, the CPSC issued a notice in the FR on 3 September 2008, terminating the rulemaking on infant cushions/pillows or pillow-like products intended for use by infants, other than with respect to the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow and substantially similar nursing pillows.
- The CPSC issued a separate FR notice on 3 September 2008 seeking public comments on its proposal to exempt the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow and substantially similar nursing pillows from the CPSC's regulations banning infant cushions/pillows set forth in the CPSC's regulations at 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(16)(i). Based on the CPSC staff's assessment, the incident data, and the comments, the CPSC concludes that an exemption from the ban on infant cushions/pillows should be granted for the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow and substantially similar nursing pillows. A substantially similar nursing pillow is a pillow designed to be used only as a nursing aide for breastfeeding mothers. For example, one that is tubular in form, C- or crescent-shaped to fit around a nursing mother's waist, round in circumference and filled with granular material. Exempting the Boston Billow Nursing Pillow would increase consumer choice by allowing consumers an alternative to the nursing pillows already in the marketplace.
ENQUIRIES
- 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. |