The Consumer Product Safety Commission is publishing policies that would change mandatory safety standards for carriages and strollers, and that would eliminate certain certificate requirements for household refrigerators if the products meet certain labeling specifications.
The commission will adopt a new mandatory safety standard for carriages and strollers drafted this year by ASTM International, an international standards organization, unless the commission determines the standard, ASTM F833-19, doesn’t improve the safety of the covered consumer product.
The final rule will become effective Nov. 5, unless the commission receives significant adverse comment by Sept. 1.
Among other things, the ASTM standard adds a new definition, performance requirement, test method and warning for a “tray/grab bar protective covering.” For example, if the covering is removable from the stroller, the underlying foam must have a warning that states: “WARNING Children can choke on foam. Only use with the cover installed.”
As for household refrigerator regulations, in a statement of enforcement policy, the commission said that as of Friday, it won’t enforce requirements to issue a general certificate of conformity for those products if the refrigerator displays an appropriate safety certification mark indicating compliance.
The commission will accept a safety certification mark demonstrating compliance with the current voluntary standard from any nationally recognized testing laboratory listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as meeting applicable federal requirements.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) established the voluntary standard for refrigerator safety: UL 60335-2-24.
UL is a global safety certification company.
The refrigerator and stroller policies will be applicable to goods including imports.