CPSC Lifts Stay of Enforcement on Flammability Requirements for Certain Non-Children's Products, Effective January 26, 2011

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jan 18, 2011, 11:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted unanimously to lift the stay of enforcement on certification for compliance with the flammability standards for non-children's products in the following categories:

Vinyl plastic film
Clothing textiles
Carpets and rugs

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General certificates of conformity (GCCs) will be required for the flammability standards for these three non-children's products starting on January 26, 2011 certifying that a manufacturer's products comply with these standards. GCCs do not need to be based on testing done by a third-party laboratory. Rather, certification testing can be done by the manufacturer of the product based on a test of each product or on a "reasonable testing program."

A GCC must accompany the product whether imported or manufactured in the United States and be furnished to the product's distributors and/or retailers. Firms must supply GCCs for their products to CPSC upon request.

The Commission's vote is intended to clarify the lifting of the stay of enforcement of the flammability standards with respect to these three non-children's products.

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 the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed to a significant decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell any recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772, teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this press release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission