CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard for Hand-Held Infant Carriers

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Dec 16, 2013, 01:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To help prevent deaths and injuries to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory standard to improve the safety of hand-held infant carriers. The Commission voted unanimously (4 to 0) November 22, 2013.

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The new federal standard incorporates by reference the voluntary standard (ASTM F2050-13a), Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Hand-Held Infant Carriers, with one modification that clarifies that semi-rigid hand-held bassinet/cradles, such as Moses Baskets, are within the scope of the standard.

A hand-held infant carrier is a freestanding, rigid or semi-rigid-sided product intended to carry an occupant whose torso is completely supported by the product to facilitate transportation by a caregiver by means of hand-holds or handles. Most hand-held infant carriers also serve as child restraint systems (car seats) for automotive use and are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Products that fall within the hand-held infant carrier standard include hand-held infant carrier seats (child restraint system for vehicles) and hand-held bassinet/cradles (including Moses baskets).

CPSC has received a total of 43 fatalities from 2007 through June of 2013. In addition CPSC estimates there were about 66,000 hospital emergency room-treated injuries between 2007 and 2013 related to hand-held infant carriers. The majority of the injuries occurred from falls.

The effective date for the mandatory hand-held infant carrier standard is six months after the final rule is published in the Federal Register.

The Commission is required under The Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), to issue consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. To date, the Commission has approved federal safety standards for full-size cribs, non-full-size cribs, play yards, baby walkers, baby bath seats, children's portable bed rails, toddler beds, infant swings, bassinets and cradles.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission