82_FR_15675 82 FR 15615 - Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs

82 FR 15615 - Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 60 (March 30, 2017)

Page Range15615-15627
FR Document2017-06270

The Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) to promulgate consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. These standards are to be ``substantially the same as'' applicable voluntary standards, or more stringent than the voluntary standard if the Commission concludes that more stringent requirements would further reduce the risk of injury associated with the product. The Commission is issuing a safety standard for infant bath tubs in response to the direction of section 104(b) of the CPSIA. In addition, the Commission is amending its regulations regarding third party conformity assessment bodies to include the mandatory standard for infant bath tubs in the list of notices of requirements (NORs) issued by the Commission.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15615-15627]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06270]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Parts 1112 and 1234

[Docket No. CPSC-2015-0019


Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, 
section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 
(CPSIA), requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission 
(Commission or CPSC) to promulgate consumer product safety standards 
for durable infant or toddler products. These standards are to be 
``substantially the same as'' applicable voluntary standards, or more 
stringent than the voluntary standard if the Commission concludes that 
more stringent requirements would further reduce the risk of injury 
associated with the product. The Commission is issuing a safety 
standard for infant bath tubs in response to the direction of section 
104(b) of the CPSIA. In addition, the Commission is amending its 
regulations regarding third party conformity assessment bodies to 
include the mandatory standard for infant bath tubs in the list of 
notices of requirements (NORs) issued by the Commission.

DATES: This rule will become effective October 2, 2017. The 
incorporation by reference of the publication listed in this rule is 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of October 2, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keysha Walker, Compliance Officer, 
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, 
Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone: 301-504-6820; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Statutory Authority

    The CPSIA was enacted on August 14, 2008. Section 104(b) of the 
CPSIA, part of the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, 
requires the Commission to: (1) Examine and assess the effectiveness of 
voluntary consumer product safety standards for durable infant or 
toddler products, in consultation with representatives of consumer 
groups, juvenile product manufacturers, and independent child product 
engineers and experts; and (2) promulgate consumer product safety 
standards for durable infant and toddler products. Standards issued 
under section 104 are to be ``substantially the same as'' the 
applicable voluntary standard or more stringent than the voluntary 
standard if the Commission concludes that more stringent requirements 
would further reduce the risk of injury associated with the product.
    The term ``durable infant or toddler product'' is defined in 
section 104(f)(1) of the CPSIA as ``a durable product intended for use, 
or that may be reasonably expected to be used, by children under the 
age of 5 years.'' Section 104(f)(2) of the CPSIA lists examples of 
durable infant or toddler products, including products such as ``bath 
seats'' and ``infant carriers.'' Although section 104(f)(2) does not 
specifically identify infant bath tubs, the Commission has defined an 
infant bath tub as a ``durable infant or toddler product'' in the 
Commission's product registration card rule under CPSIA section 
104(d).\1\
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    \1\ Requirements for Consumer Registration of Durable Infant or 
Toddler Products; Final Rule, 74 FR 68668, 68669 (Dec. 29, 2009); 16 
CFR 1130.2(a)(16).
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    On August 14, 2015, the Commission issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPR) for infant bath tubs. 80 FR 48769. The NPR proposed to 
incorporate by reference the voluntary standard, ASTM F2670-13, 
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Tubs, with 
several modifications to strengthen the standard, as a mandatory 
consumer product safety rule. In this document, the Commission is 
issuing a mandatory consumer product safety standard for infant bath 
tubs. As required by section 104(b)(1)(A), the Commission consulted 
with manufacturers, retailers, trade organizations, laboratories, 
consumer advocacy groups, consultants, and the public to develop this 
proposed standard, largely through the ASTM process. Based on 
modifications to the voluntary standard since the NPR published, the 
final rule incorporates by reference the most recent voluntary 
standard, developed by ASTM International, ASTM F2670-17, without 
modification.
    Additionally, the final rule amends the list of NORs issued by the 
Commission in 16 CFR part 1112 to include the standard for infant bath 
tubs. Under section 14 of the CPSA, the Commission promulgated 16 CFR 
part 1112 to establish requirements for accreditation of third party 
conformity assessment bodies (or testing laboratories) to test for 
conformity with a children's product safety rule. Amending part 1112 
adds an NOR for the infant bath tub standard to the list of children's 
product safety rules.

II. Product Description

A. Definition of Infant Bath Tub

    Paragraph 3.1.2 of ASTM F2670-17 defines an ``infant bath tub'' as 
a ``tub, enclosure, or other similar product intended to hold water and 
be placed into an adult bath tub, sink, or on top of other surfaces to 
provide support or containment, or both, for an infant in a reclining, 
sitting, or standing position during bathing by a caregiver.'' 
Paragraph 1.1 of the voluntary standard specifically excludes 
``products commonly known as bath slings, typically made of fabric or 
mesh'' from the scope of the standard.
    Infant bath tubs within the scope of the final rule include 
products of various designs, such as ``bucket style'' tubs that support 
a child sitting upright, tubs with an inclined seat for infants too 
young to sit unsupported, inflatable tubs, folding tubs, and tubs with 
spa features, such as handheld shower attachments and even whirlpool 
settings. Paragraph 6.1 of ASTM F2670-17 permits infant bath tubs to 
have ``a permanent or removable passive crotch restraint as part of 
their design,'' but does not permit ``any additional restraint 
system(s) which requires action on the part of the caregiver to secure 
or release.''

B. Market Description

    Typically, infant bath tubs are produced and/or marketed by 
juvenile

[[Page 15616]]

product manufacturers and distributors. Currently, at least 25 
manufacturers and importers supply infant bath tubs to the U.S. market, 
including 22 domestic firms: 14 are domestic manufacturers, seven are 
domestic importers, and one firm has an unknown supply source. Three 
foreign companies export directly to the United States via Internet 
sales or to U.S. retailers.\2\
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    \2\ Staff made these determinations using information from Dun & 
Bradstreet and Reference USAGov, as well as firm Web sites.
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    According to preliminary data collected with the CPSC's 2013 
Durable Products Nursery Exposure Survey, households with children 
under 6 years old own approximately 8.9 million infant bath tubs. Of 
those, approximately 4.4 million are currently in use.

III. Incident Data

A. Overview of Incident Data

    The Commission is aware of a total of 247 incidents (31 fatal and 
216 nonfatal) related to infant bath tubs that were reported to have 
occurred from January 2004 through December 2015. This total includes 
45 new infant bath tub-related incidents reported since the NPR \3\ 
(collected between May 20, 2015 and December 31, 2015). None of the 
newly reported incidents is a fatality. All of the new incidents fall 
within the hazard patterns identified in the NPR. Just over half (146 
out of 247 or 59 percent) of the reports were submitted to the CPSC by 
retailers and manufacturers through the CPSC's ``Retailer Reporting 
System.'' The remaining 101 incident reports were submitted to the CPSC 
from various sources, such as the CPSC Hotline, Internet reports, 
newspaper clippings, medical examiners, and other state/local 
authorities.
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    \3\ Data discussed in the NPR was collected from January 1, 2004 
through May 20, 2015.
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    More recently, staff also reviewed the incident data for 2016 and 
identified an additional 34 incidents with no fatalities. Staff did not 
identify any new hazard patterns in the 2016 data. The more detailed 
discussion of incident data that follows does not include year 2016 
incidents.
1. Fatalities
    Of the 31 decedents in the fatal incidents, 29 of the victims were 
between the ages of 4 months and 11 months old; the other two 
fatalities were a 23-month-old and a 3-year-old. The fatalities were 
evenly split with 16 males and 15 females. In 30 of the 31 fatalities, 
a parent or guardian was not present at the time the incident occurred. 
Drowning was the cause of death reported for 30 of the 31 fatalities. 
The remaining fatality involved a child with ventricular septal defect, 
and the coroner listed that the immediate cause of death was attributed 
to pneumonia.
2. Nonfatal Incidents
    Thirty-two injuries were reported among the 216 nonfatal incidents. 
Eight of nine hospitalizations were due to near-drowning, and one was 
due to a scalding water burn. In all eight near-drowning 
hospitalizations, the parent or guardian had left the child alone for 
at least a short period of time when the incident occurred. Five 
additional near-drowning incidents required emergency department 
treatment. The remaining incidents ranged from rashes, upper 
respiratory infections due to mold on the product, slip and fall 
injury, laceration by sharp edge, a hit on head by toy accessory, and a 
concussion from falling from a tub.
3. National Injury Estimates \4\
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    \4\ The source of the injury estimates is the National 
Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a statistically valid 
injury surveillance system. NEISS injury data is gathered from 
emergency departments of hospitals that are selected as a 
probability sample of all the U.S. hospitals with emergency 
departments. The surveillance data gathered from the sample 
hospitals enable CPSC staff to make timely national estimates of the 
number of injuries associated with specific consumer products.
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    Commission staff estimates a total of 2,300 injuries (sample size = 
89, coefficient of variation = 0.18) related to infant bath tubs 
occurred from 2004 to 2015, which were treated in U.S. hospital 
emergency departments.\5\ The injury estimates for individual years are 
not reportable because they fail to meet publication criteria.\6\
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    \5\ National injury estimates for 2004-2014 were presented in 
the NPR.
    \6\ According to the NEISS publication criteria, an estimate 
must be 1,200 or greater, the sample size must be 20 or greater, and 
the coefficient of variation must be 33 percent or smaller.
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    One drowning death was reported through the NEISS and is included 
in the fatality counts for infant bath tubs. About 94 percent of the 
estimated emergency department visits during the 11-year period 
involved infants 12 months of age or younger, and all but three cases 
involved children 24 months of age or younger. The cases involving 
children older than 2 years of age included: A 5-year-old who received 
a laceration while playing with the infant bath tub, a 3-year-old 
falling off an infant tub, and a 6-year-old landing in a straddle 
position on an infant tub while getting out of a bathtub.
    The estimated emergency department visits were split almost evenly 
among male (48%) and female (52%) children. For the emergency 
department-treated injuries related to infant bath tubs, the following 
characteristics occurred most frequently:
     Hazard--falls (35%); a majority of the reports did not 
specify the manner or cause of fall;
     Injured body part--head (37%), all/over half of body 
(20%), and face (18%);
     Injury type--internal organ injury (included closed head 
injuries) (29%), drowning or nearly drowning (20%), and contusions/
abrasions (18%);
     Disposition--treated and released (83%) and admitted or 
transferred to a hospital (14%).

B. Hazard Pattern Characterization Based on Incident Data

    Figure 1 shows the distribution of hazard patterns for infant bath 
tubs by frequency.

[[Page 15617]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MR17.040

     Drowning/Near-Drownings account for 17 percent (43 of 247) 
of reported incidents. Of the 43 drowning or near-drowning incidents, 
30 were fatalities and 13 were near-drowning incidents. Because no one 
witnessed most of the incidents, Commission staff cannot determine a 
pattern that led to the submersions. However, in 38 of 43 incidents, 
the parent or guardian was not present at the time the incident 
occurred. Frequently, the child was found floating. In the other five 
incidents in which the parent or guardian was present, four of the 
children survived. Only one reported fatality was not ruled a drowning; 
this incident is included in the miscellaneous category.
     Protrusion/Sharp/Laceration issues account for 19 percent 
(48 of 247) of reported incidents. A protrusion is commonly a part of 
the product that sticks out or has a rough surface; and in the 
incidents reported, the child rubbed against the protruding part in 
some way, which caused red marks, cuts, or bruising. The injured body 
parts reportedly included toes, feet, bottom, genitalia, and back. In 
29 of 39 incidents, the part of the infant bath tub described as a 
``bump'' or ``hump'' caused a red mark on the infant's back or 
discomfort to the infant in the bath tub. Typically, the bath tub 
``hammock/sling'' attachment was involved in this type of protrusion 
incident. One incident required a hospital visit, and the remaining 47 
incidents involved no injury or a minor injury. The incident requiring 
a hospital visit involved a scratch to the child's back, caused by a 
screw that penetrated the tub wall.
     Product Failures account for 34 percent (85 of 247) of 
reported incidents. Fifty-nine incidents reported the bath tub 
``hammock/sling'' attachment collapsing, and eight additional incidents 
of the locking mechanism failing or breaking. The remaining 18 
incidents involved various tub parts breaking. Of the 85 product 
failures, two incidents required a trip to the hospital, and the 
remaining incidents reported either no injury or a minor injury. The 
two children who required hospital trips were treated and released. One 
of these incidents was due to a toy breaking off from the tub and 
causing a deep cut to the victim's forehead. The second incident was 
due to a leg collapsing on a tub placed on a counter top; as a result, 
the child fell from the counter top to the floor and suffered a 
concussion.
     Entrapment issues account for 8 percent (20 of 247) of 
reported incidents. Entrapment incidents involve body parts caught or 
stuck on parts of the tub, mostly in a pinching manner. The body parts 
reportedly injured were fingers, arms, feet, legs, and genitalia. Many 
of these injuries occurred in tubs that fold. The most common 
components of the tubs causing injury were the hinges, holes, and foot 
area inside the tub. No reported incident required a hospital visit. 
All of the entrapment-related reports involved either no injury or a 
minor injury.
     Slippery tub surface issues account for 6 percent (15 out 
of 247) of reported incidents. Common reported incidents and concerns 
include scratches to the body or protrusions that contact the body, or 
potential submersions, including the head. One emergency room visit was 
due to a child slipping under water and swallowing some water; the rest 
of the reports involved either no injury or a minor injury.
     Mold/Allergy issues account for 5 percent (12 of 247) of 
reported incidents. Of the 12 incidents, eight were due to mold, and 
four were due to allergy. Reported issues included a variety of 
symptoms: Itching, rashes, foul odor, respiratory concerns, and a 
urinary tract infection. Eight incidents involved a single tub make and 
model, including six with mold issues and two with allergy issues. Two 
of the 12 incidents involved emergency room visits: One child may have 
developed an upper respiratory issue and one child

[[Page 15618]]

broke out in a rash throughout the child's back. Seven additional 
incidents required medical treatment: Four reported itching and rashes, 
one reported a urinary tract infection, and one reported mold spores on 
the genitalia.
     Miscellaneous issues account for the remaining 10 percent 
(24 of 247) of the reported incidents. The incidents included a fall 
from the tub, an unstable tub, missing pieces, leaking or overheating 
batteries, rust, and scalding. One incidental fatality and one hospital 
visit fall in this miscellaneous category. The fatality involved a 
child with a ventricular septal defect, with the death attributed to 
pneumonia. A scalding incident in which a parent poured hot water from 
the stove onto the foam cushion in the infant bath tub and then placed 
the child in the tub resulted in the hospital visit. The remaining 
reports were either an incident with no injury or a minor injury, 
including six battery-related complaints.

IV. Overview and Assessment of ASTM F2670

    ASTM F2670, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath 
Tubs, is the voluntary standard that was developed to address the 
identified hazard patterns associated with the use of infant bath tubs. 
The standard was first approved by ASTM in 2009, and then revised in 
2010, twice in 2011, 2012, 2013, twice in 2016, and the newest version 
was approved on January 1, 2017. The NPR referenced ASTM F2670-13, with 
the following modifications to the ASTM standard to adequately address 
hazard patterns identified in the incident data:
    1. Revised latching or locking mechanism testing protocol.
    2. Revised static load testing protocol.
    3. Revised content of the warnings, markings, and instructions:
    (a) Changed the text in the drowning warnings, and
    (b) added fall hazard warning.
    4. Specified a standard format (including black text on a white 
background, table design, bullet points, and black border) for the 
warnings on the product, on the packaging, and in the instructions.
    5. Required that the safety alert symbol and the word ``WARNING'' 
on the drowning hazard label be ``at least 0.4 in. (10mm) high unless 
stated otherwise, shall be the same size, and shall be in bold capital 
letters. The remainder of the text shall be in characters whose upper 
case shall be at least 0.2 in. (5 mm) high unless stated otherwise.''
    In the time since the NPR was published, ASTM approved and 
published three more versions of the voluntary standard. The most 
recent version, ASTM F2670-17, was approved and published on January 1, 
2017. As explained below, ASTM F2670-17 addresses all of the 
Commission's proposed modifications and concerns described in the NPR, 
allowing the Commission to adopt ASTM F2670-17, without modification, 
as the mandatory safety standard for infant bath tubs.

A. Revised Latching or Locking Mechanism Requirements

    The NPR proposed a modification to F2670-13 to allow more time for 
the latching or locking mechanism testing to accommodate more 
complicated mechanisms. Through the ASTM process, the wording and 
rationale for the latching or locking mechanism durability testing in 
paragraph 7.1.2 of F2670 evolved. The language is consistent with the 
language in the NPR and is now incorporated into ASTM F2670-17. For the 
final rule, the Commission is adopting the language in 7.1.2 of F2670-
17, without modification.

B. Revised Static Load Requirements

    The NPR proposed a modification to paragraph 7.4.2 of F2670-13 to 
change the static load test apparatus to a shot bag, which was 
recommended by the ASTM subcommittee, but not yet balloted through ASTM 
at the time of the NPR. ASTM has now balloted the revision, which is 
included in F2670-17. The revised language is consistent with the 
modifications in the NPR, and thus, the Commission adopts paragraph 
7.4.2 of F2670-17 for the final rule, without modification.

C. Revised Content of the Warnings, Markings, and Instructions

    The NPR proposed that the drowning and fall hazard warnings state:
    Drowning Hazard: Babies have drowned while using infant bath tubs.
     Stay in arm's reach of your baby.
     Use in empty adult tub or sink.
     Keep drain open.
    Fall Hazard: Babies have suffered head injuries falling from infant 
bath tubs.
     Place tub only [insert manufacturer's intended 
locations(s) for safe use (e.g., in adult tub, sink or on floor; in 
adult tub or on floor)].
     Never lift or carry baby in tub.
    Although ASTM F2670-13 contained warning statements for both 
drowning and fall hazards, the warning header only identified drowning 
as the hazard. The Commission proposed in the NPR to separate the 
warnings to identify more clearly the drowning hazard and fall hazard 
and to provide guidance on how to avoid these hazards. Additionally, 
the NPR proposed warning language that was more personal by use of the 
word ``baby.'' For example, the NPR used the word ``babies'' as opposed 
to ``infant'' and the phrase ``stay in arm's reach of your baby'' as 
opposed to ``ALWAYS keep infant within adult's reach.''
    After the NPR, the warning content in the voluntary standard was 
revised to be consistent with the modifications in the NPR, except for 
one statement. ASTM F2670-17 contains a revision to the hazard 
statement ``Keep drain open,'' clarifying that caregivers should keep 
the drain in an adult tub open during bathing, stating ``Keep drain 
open in adult tub or sink.'' The Commission agrees that the added 
statement clarifies the direction to caregivers. Accordingly, the final 
rule adopts the revised warning content in ASTM F2670-17, without 
modification.

D. Warning Label Format

    At the time of the NPR, F2670-13 did not require any specific 
formatting for warning statements. The NPR proposed specific changes to 
the format of warning statements consistent with ANSI Z535.4, American 
National Standard for Product Safety Signs and Labels. CPSC staff 
regularly cites ANSI Z535.4 as a baseline in developing warning 
materials. Since the NPR was published, ASTM convened a task group, the 
ASTM Ad Hoc Wording Task Group (Ad Hoc TG), which consists of members 
of the various durable nursery product voluntary standards committees, 
including CPSC staff. The purpose of the Ad Hoc TG is to harmonize the 
wording, as well as warning format, across durable infant and toddler 
product ASTM voluntary standards. CPSC's Human Factors Division hazard 
communication subject matter expert, who also is the CPSC staff 
representative on the ANSI Z535 committee, represents CPSC staff on 
this task group. ASTM's Ad Hoc TG recommendations related to the format 
of warning statements were published as a reference document entitled, 
``Ad Hoc Wording--May 4, 2016,'' as part of the F15 Committee 
Documents. The approved Ad Hoc Wording guidance document recommends 
formatting requirements that are similar to the ANSI Z535.4 
requirements, with modifications intended to make the Ad Hoc TG's 
recommendations more stringent.
    After publication of the Ad Hoc Wording recommendation, the ASTM

[[Page 15619]]

committee for infant bath tubs balloted and approved incorporation of 
the Ad Hoc Wording guidance recommendations into ASTM F2670-17. 
Commission staff states that adopting the Ad Hoc Wording guidance 
document recommendations provides noticeable and consistent warning 
labels, including warning formatting, on infant bath tubs and across 
juvenile products. Therefore, for the final rule, the Commission adopts 
the warning formatting requirements incorporated into ASTM F2670-17, 
without modification.

E. Warning Label Font Size

    The NPR proposed to increase the font size of the safety alert 
symbol, and the word ``WARNING,'' to be not less than 0.4 in. (10 mm) 
high and the remainder of the text with upper case characters not less 
than 0.2 in. (5 mm) high.\7\ The Commission proposed this revision to 
align the font size for infant bath tub labeling with ASTM F1967, 
Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Infant Bath Seats, which is 
already incorporated into a federal standard. Similar to bath tub 
incidents, bath seat incidents also include drownings associated with 
caregivers leaving children unattended. Currently, increased font size 
for warning statements is unique to the infant bath seats voluntary and 
mandatory standards. The Ad Hoc Wording guidance document does not 
include this modification. The Ad Hoc Wording guidance document 
recommends that the font size of the safety alert symbol, and the word 
``WARNING,'' be not less than 0.2 in. (5 mm) high and the remainder of 
the text with upper case characters be not less than 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) 
high. ASTM F2670-17 follows the Ad Hoc Wording guidance document, and 
does not include the increased font size that the Commission proposed 
in the NPR.
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    \7\ This requirement applies to a separate drowning hazard label 
and if the drowning and fall hazard labels are displayed together. 
If the fall hazard label is separate, smaller text size applies.
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    The Commission recognizes that the Ad Hoc Wording guidance document 
improves the warning label format, and therefore, the effectiveness of 
the warning statements. ASTM F2670-17 contains all of the Ad Hoc 
Wording guidance document recommendations. As stated above, the 
specific formatting changes in the AD Hoc Wording guidance follow the 
guidance of ANSI Z535.4, differing from what was proposed in the NPR 
only in terms of the specific size exception that had been proposed for 
the drowning warning label. The warning label changes in F2670-17 bring 
the formatting and language of the warning label into close alignment 
with the NPR proposal, except for the size requirements. The Commission 
concludes that all of the formatting and wording revisions incorporated 
into ASTM F2670-17 improve the labeling over the labeling in F2670-13, 
referenced in the NPR. The Commission cannot state definitively that 
increasing the font size of this particular warning statement will 
influence caregiver behavior more than the totality of formatting 
changes already incorporated into ASTM F2670-17. However, in an August 
10, 2016 letter to ASTM,\8\ CPSC staff encouraged further exploration 
of the increased size of the warnings to determine whether these 
additional changes will provide even greater effect. Therefore, the 
final rule incorporates by reference ASTM F2670-17, without any 
modifications.
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    \8\ https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CPSC-2015-0019-0023.
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F. Infant Bath Slings

    Updated incident data for the final rule demonstrates that 59 of 
the 85 ``product failure'' incidents involve the infant bath hammock or 
sling collapsing. No injuries or minor injuries resulted from the bath 
hammock/sling incidents. In October 2016, CPSC recalled the infant bath 
tub with a sling accessory that was involved in the majority of infant 
bath sling incidents.\9\
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    \9\ https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Summer-Infant-Recalls-Infant-Bath-Tubs (viewed on Web site 11/22/2016.)
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    Currently, ASTM F2670-17 does not include provisions that will 
specifically address the incidents involving bath hammocks/slings. 
Staff advises that the ASTM subcommittee on bath tubs is working to 
evaluate this issue, but has not yet completed its work. CPSC staff 
continues to work with two ASTM task groups formed to address the risks 
of bath slings. One group is developing performance requirements for 
infant bath slings that only can be used with infant bath tubs. A 
second group is developing requirements for infant bath slings that are 
used separately or as tub accessories, which will be addressed under a 
new, separate standard. CPSC staff states that new requirements for 
bath hammocks/slings that can be used with an infant bath tub will be 
added to the voluntary standard in the near future, as the task group 
is preparing to present recommendations to the larger subcommittee 
during an April 2017 ASTM meeting, and anticipates balloting of the new 
provisions shortly after the meeting. Therefore, the Commission is 
proceeding with a final rule on infant bath tubs and urges the ASTM 
subcommittee to finalize the inclusion of infant bath hammock/sling 
requirements to the ASTM standard.
    If the voluntary standard for infant bath tubs is revised to 
include requirements for infant bath slings used with an infant bath 
tub and the Commission is notified of the revised standard by ASTM, 
CPSC staff will assess the revised voluntary standard. Staff will then 
make a recommendation to the Commission regarding whether to revise the 
mandatory standard for infant bath tubs to incorporate new provisions 
on infant bath slings, using the process for updating durable infant 
and toddler product rules pursuant to section 104 of the CPSIA. 
Similarly, if ASTM creates a new voluntary standard related to infant 
bath slings that are used separately or as tub accessories, CPSC staff 
will assess the ASTM standard and make a recommendation to the 
Commission whether to create a new mandatory durable infant and toddler 
standard under section 104 of the CPSIA for such products.

V. Response to Comments

    The August 14, 2015 NPR solicited information and comments 
concerning all aspects of the NPR, and specifically asked about the 
cost of compliance with, and testing to, the proposed mandatory infant 
bath tub standard, the proposed 6-month effective date for the new 
mandatory rule and the amendment to part 1112. The Commission received 
12 comments related to the NPR. Seven commenters expressed general 
support of the NPR, along with additional, more specific, comments. 
Five commenters either requested more time for the ASTM committee to 
consider the NPR proposals and revise the voluntary standard, as 
appropriate, or disagreed with some of the proposed requirements in the 
NPR. Comments and other supporting documentation, such as summaries of 
ASTM meetings, are available on: www.Regulations.gov, by searching 
Docket No. CPSC-2015-0019.
    We summarize the comments received on the NPR and CPSC's responses 
below.

A. Test Requirements

    (Comment 1) Two commenters recommended that the text of the static 
load test protocol match the ASTM F2670 standard language. The 
commenters noted that wording in the NPR was similar to what was 
balloted and approved by ASTM, but not exact.
    (Response 1) At the time of the NPR, staff recommended using the 
exact wording that the ASTM subcommittee

[[Page 15620]]

was proposing. After the NPR, the ASTM subcommittee chairman made 
editorial changes to the proposal, which resulted in slight differences 
between the ASTM wording and the NPR wording. The Commission agrees 
that the static load test protocol language reflected in ASTM F2670-17 
is nearly the same as the language proposed in the NPR, and will accept 
the ASTM F2670-17 language in the final rule, without modification.
    (Comment 2) Two commenters recommended including the revised static 
load test protocol rationale (X1.2 Section 7.4.2) in the final rule.
    (Response 2) Consistent with the response to comment 1, the 
Commission agrees that the rationale for the static load test protocol 
language reflected in ASTM F2670-17 be included in the final rule, 
without modification.
    (Comment 3) Two commenters stated that the Latching or Locking 
Mechanism Durability test protocol in the NPR is identical to what has 
been balloted and approved for a revision to F2670. The commenters 
requested that the final rule accept this language.
    (Response 3) The Commission agrees with the Latching or Locking 
Mechanism Durability test language in ASTM F2670-17 Section 7.1 and 
will incorporate this revision into the final rule, without 
modification.
    (Comment 4) Two commenters recommended including the revised 
Latching or Locking Mechanism Durability test language rationale (X1.1 
Section 7.1.2) in the final rule.
    (Response 4) The Commission agrees. The final rule incorporates the 
rationale for the Latching or Locking Mechanism Durability test 
protocol language reflected in ASTM F2670-17.
    (Comment 5) One commenter recommended that stands for bath tubs be 
included in the final rule. The commenter indicated that the current 
voluntary standard does not include stands, but stated a concern about 
an influx into the U.S. market of European-designed products that have 
matching stands.
    (Response 5) The Commission is aware that infant bath tub stands 
are not covered by the current voluntary standard, ASTM F2670-17. CPSC 
staff advised that staff is not aware of any incident data involving 
bath tub stands. CPSC staff will monitor incident data and the retail 
market for use of these products. Currently, however, based on the lack 
of incident data, the Commission is not including bath tub stands in 
the final rule.

B. Incident Data

    (Comment 6) One commenter questioned whether CPSC staff shared all 
of CPSC's incident data with ASTM. The NPR referenced 202 incidents 
related to infant bath tubs, while CPSC staff reported to ASTM an 
awareness of 156 incidents that occurred from 2004 to 2014. The 
commenter questioned whether CPSC had included ``sling'' data in its 
incident review for the NPR, noting that sling accessories are not 
included in the scope of the current ASTM standard.
    (Response 6) CPSC staff included bath slings data in its incident 
review for the NPR and provided such data to ASTM. Inclusion of this 
data prompted ASTM to form two task groups to address incidents related 
to bath slings. One group is developing performance requirements for 
infant bath slings that only can be used with infant bath tubs. ASTM 
intends to include these requirements in ASTM F2670. A second group is 
developing requirements for infant bath slings that are used separately 
or as tub accessories, which will be addressed under a new, separate 
voluntary standard.
    With regard to data discrepancies between CPSC and ASTM, such 
discrepancies may exist for several reasons. First, the scope of the 
data sets may be different. For example, the NPR data included 
incidents reported to CPSC involving infant bath tubs received from 
January 1, 2004, through May 20, 2015. The data delivered to ASTM for 
the fall 2014 meetings included data received by CPSC through July 24, 
2014. CPSC provided an additional update to ASTM for the spring 2016 
meeting.
    Second, CPSC cannot share confidential data with ASTM. The CPSC 
rulemaking packages include all data received by staff; this includes 
data received through the Retailer Reporting Program (RRP). Tab A to 
the staff's briefing package for the final rule on infant bath tubs 
demonstrates that CPSC received a sizeable portion of the nonfatal 
incident data through RRP; the same was true for the NPR. Because RRP 
information is submitted confidentially, CPSC provides a general 
summary of RRP data for rulemaking packages, but cannot share incident 
details received through the RRP with ASTM, unless CPSC completes a 
follow-up in-depth investigation, or such reports were also received 
from other sources.
    Third, the Infant Bath Tub subcommittee appears to maintain data in 
a manner that does not match identically to incident data supplied by 
CPSC staff nor to the incident data in the NPR. Incident data 
maintained by the ASTM subcommittee is described by the commenter. CPSC 
staff provided 167 infant bath tub-related incidents to ASTM in fall 
2014. Thirty incidents involved a fatality and 137 reports described a 
nonfatal incident. When the ASTM subcommittee prepared its data, 12 
nonfatal incidents provided by CPSC staff were not included in the 
subcommittee's spreadsheet. CPSC document numbers for these 12 
incidents (some have been investigated) are: H0430279A, I07B0418A, 
I1170518A, I1210049A, H1330201A, I1380526A, I1390145A, I13B0030A, 
I1430085A, I1430327A, I1450108A, 60318884. Of the 12 incidents, 11 
involved slings, and one involved a faucet adapter, which was later 
determined to be out of scope for this product category.
    (Comment 7) One commenter stated that incidents related to infant 
bath tubs have declined significantly over the years. The commenter 
stated that no urgency for a rule on infant bath tubs exists because of 
this decline.
    (Response 7) CPSC is issuing the final rule for infant bath tubs to 
fulfill a congressional mandate under section 104 of the CPSIA to 
create mandatory standards for durable infant and toddler products. 
Moreover, NPR data consisted of incidents received by CPSC on or before 
May 20, 2015. Accordingly, any comparison of the number of incidents 
reported to CPSC that occurred in 2015 to any past years is 
inappropriate because the data from past years do not represent the 
full year of 2015 data. In the NPR, of the overall 31 fatalities, four 
deaths were reported in each of 2010 and 2011; two deaths were reported 
in 2012; and one each was reported in 2013 and 2014. In the most 
current infant bath tub Epidemiology memorandum, Tab A of the staff 
briefing package for a final rule on infant bath tubs, staff states 
that as of February 17, 2016, CPSC has not received any fatal incident 
reports for infant bath tubs. CPSC generally does not expect completed 
reporting of fatal incidents for a particular year for 2 to 3 years 
later, due to lag time of the many ways fatal incidents are reported to 
CPSC. For instance, CPSC does not expect all reported 2014 fatalities 
to be received by CPSC until around late 2016, or sometime in 2017. 
Because of the lag time in receiving incident data, CPSC does not 
publish or draw conclusions using the number of fatalities reported in 
the most recent years. It is possible, and would not be unexpected, for 
additional infant bath tub fatalities that occurred in 2014 or

[[Page 15621]]

2015, to be reported to CPSC in the future.
    Recent data collection on infant bath tub incidents reported to 
CPSC on or before February 17, 2016 reflect an increase in the number 
of nonfatal incidents related to infant bath tubs for the years 2013 
(26 reports), 2014 (31 reports), and 2015 (44 reports). CPSC also 
experiences a lag time between the date of a nonfatal incident and CPSC 
receiving the reports.

C. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act (IRFA)

    (Comment 8) One commenter, a domestic manufacturer of inflatable 
infant bathtubs, stated that it would be adversely affected by defining 
``inflatable bathtubs'' to be durable products falling within the scope 
of a mandatory rule. The commenter stated that the proposed rule would 
require the manufacturer to provide consumers with prepaid product 
registration cards and to provide an option for consumers to register 
products via the Internet. The commenter asserted that this would 
increase its costs by 1.5 to 2.0 percent on an ongoing basis.
    (Response 8) The requirement that manufacturers of durable infant 
or toddler products provide each consumer with a product registration 
card was established by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 
2008, and not by the this rule on infant bath tubs. In 16 CFR part 
1130, the Commission determined that infant bath tubs are durable 
infant or toddler products. No exclusion was made for inflatable bath 
tubs. Therefore, the statutory and regulatory requirements concerning 
the provision of product registration cards to consumers already apply 
to manufacturers of inflatable infant bath tubs and will be unaffected 
by the final rule.
    (Comment 9) One commenter stated: ``in order to ensure that the 
lifespan of our inflatable tub would match that of the hard plastic 
tubs and folding tubs . . . ., the thickness of the vinyl used would 
have to be increased to the point where the cost of manufacturing and 
subsequent retail price of the item would be more than the market would 
bear.'' The commenter estimated that this would increase the cost of 
the product by 10 to 15 percent.
    (Response 9) The commenter may misunderstand some of the 
requirements of the proposed rule and the voluntary standard. Although 
inflatable infant bath tubs are classified as durable infant or toddler 
products, ASTM F2670 does not require the products to have a minimum 
expected life. The standard contains requirements that, among other 
things, are intended to ensure that the bath tub will not collapse or 
break during use and that any latching or locking mechanisms on the 
product are durable.
    (Comment 10) One commenter stated that the cost of labelling is not 
as small as indicated in the NPR. Although the commenter agreed that 
the labelling costs are one-time costs, the commenter said it would 
take ``multiple years to recoup the loss in margin.'' The commenter did 
not provide an estimate of the labelling costs. The commenter stated 
that the commenter would likely ``cease manufacturing inflatable infant 
bathtubs for sale in the U.S'' if the standard is codified as it is 
currently written.
    (Response 10) Although the commenter asserted that the labelling 
cost would be greater than indicated, the commenter did not provide any 
specific estimates of the expected labelling costs. Without more 
information, the Commission cannot provide a specific response to this 
comment.

D. Performance and Labelling Requirements

    (Comment 11) Two commenters requested that CPSC in the mandatory 
rule require a maximum water fill line on infant bath tubs. One 
commenter suggested that the ``fill line demarcation be specified at 
depths of no greater than 2 inches.'' The other commenter suggested the 
manufacturer be responsible for providing a maximum fill line that is 
in a ``suitable position.''
    (Response 11) A similar suggestion to require a water fill line was 
raised in the rulemaking for infant bath seats. For the same reason we 
gave in that rulemaking, the Commission will not include a water fill 
line in the infant bath tubs final rule. CPSC staff has voiced concern 
that a water fill line on infant bath tubs could imply a safe water 
level, even though staff is aware that children have drowned in very 
little water. Staff advises, and the Commission agrees, that the ASTM 
wording required in the user instruction, ``Babies can drown in as 
little as 1 inch of water. Use as little water as possible to bathe 
your baby,'' accurately describes the risk associated with any level of 
water. CPSC staff will continue to monitor this issue.
    (Comment 12) A commenter indicated that icons for key safety 
messages were clearer to consumers, but the commenter did not 
specifically recommend that CPSC require use of icons and pictograms in 
the final rule for infant bath tubs.
    (Response 12) The Commission acknowledges that icons and pictograms 
can be used to convey a hazard more effectively, especially for 
consumers with limited or no English literacy. However, CPSC staff 
advises that the design of effective graphics can be difficult. For 
example, some seemingly obvious graphics are poorly understood and can 
give rise to consumer interpretations that are opposite of what the 
message of the graphic is intended to convey (deemed ``critical 
confusions'' in human factors literature). Use of icons and pictograms 
generally require a consumer study to ensure that the intended message 
is conveyed. However, if revised warning statements prove to be 
inadequate to address safety hazards associated with infant bath tubs, 
CPSC staff may recommend developing graphic symbols in the future to 
further reduce the risk of injury. Currently, however, the Commission 
is not mandating use of graphics for warning labels in the infant bath 
tubs final rule.
    (Comment 13) A commenter stated: ``any safety wording should be 
equally visible in Spanish as well as English.''
    (Response 13) The NPR states that the warning label shall appear, 
at a minimum, in the English language. The Commission does not dismiss 
the usefulness of providing warnings in Spanish and other non-English 
languages, and recognizes that adding Spanish versions of the warnings 
most likely would improve warning readability among the U.S. population 
more than adding any other language. Nevertheless, the Commission's 
incident data analyses for infant bath tubs have not revealed a pattern 
of incidents involving people who speak Spanish. Accordingly, the final 
rule does not require warnings to be in English and Spanish, but does 
not prohibit manufacturers from providing the required warnings in 
another language, in addition to English.
    (Comment 14) Two commenters urged CPSC to monitor ASTM's work on 
including infant bath sling accessories to the infant bath tub 
standard.
    (Response 14) CPSC staff has been an active participant in the ASTM 
task group work regarding infant bath sling accessories sold with and 
used with infant bath tubs. Staff will continue this work. We encourage 
the infant bath sling task group to finalize recommended sling 
requirements so that the ASTM subcommittee can discuss this progress 
and vote for inclusion of bath sling requirements in the voluntary 
standard for infant bath tubs. Once this work is complete, CPSC staff 
will assess whether any revised voluntary standard adequately addresses 
incident data on bath slings

[[Page 15622]]

and make a recommendation to the Commission. The Commission will 
consider whether to incorporate such revisions into an amendment to the 
mandatory bath tubs standard through the revision process described in 
section 3 of Public Law 112-28.
    (Comment 15) One commenter recommended that, based on the incident 
data, CPSC restrict the scope of the rule to cover only infant bath 
tubs for infants under 24 months of age.
    (Response 15) The Commission is not including an age limit in the 
final rule for infant bath tubs. Section 104(f) of the CPSIA defines 
``durable infant or toddler products'' as ``durable products intended 
for use, or that may be reasonably expected to be used, by children 
under the age of 5 years.'' Although infant bath tubs are considered 
durable infant or toddler products, no age requirement or age cut-off 
for use of the product is included in the ASTM standard. Depending on 
the manufacturer's design, infant bath tubs can accommodate users from 
newborns to preschoolers. Safety requirements included in the ASTM 
standard, and incorporated into the final rule for bath tubs, benefit 
infants and toddlers across all intended ages of foreseeable users.
    (Comment 16) One commenter stated support for the ``new wording as 
it is clearer,'' and stated that the ``new FALLING HAZARD is a good 
addition.'' The commenter suggested adding an additional warning to 
``NOT USE ON RAISED SURFACES, SUCH AS TABLES OR WORKTOPS.''
    (Response 16) One incident involved a skull fracture sustained when 
a bath tub fell from a kitchen counter. Based on the incident data, 
staff advises that the fall warnings included in ASTM F2670-17 
adequately and succinctly convey the message of where the infant bath 
tub can be used safely based on the manufacturer's intended use. 
Specifically, section 8.5.2.2 of the voluntary standard states:
    Additional warning statements shall address the following:
     Place tub only [insert manufacturer's intended location(s) 
for safe use (e.g., in adult tub, sink, or on floor)].
     Never lift or carry baby in tub.

Staff will continue to monitor incidents for use of bath tubs on 
elevated surfaces.
    (Comment 17) One commenter stated: ``the requirement in 16 CFR 
1234.2(b)(6)(i)(C) previously proposed by CPSC was discussed by the 
task group; it was considered too nebulous, subjective and virtually 
unenforceable, and therefore was recommended to be deleted.''
    (Response 17) Proposed 16 CFR 1234.2(b)(6)(i)(C) states: ``9.3 In 
addition to the warnings, the instructional literature shall emphasize 
and reinforce the safe practices stated in the warnings.'' The intent 
of the statement was to ensure that the instructional statements in 
section 9 of the voluntary standard remain consistent with the warning 
statements in section 8. Current wording in section 9 of ASTM F2670-17 
meets this objective. Accordingly, for the final rule, the Commission 
adopts the wording in section 9 of ASTM F2670-17, without modification.

E. General and Legal

    (Comment 18) Two commenters recommended delaying publication of the 
final rule until major warnings format and content revisions proposed 
in the NPR can be properly reviewed, balloted through the ASTM process, 
and then implemented into F2670.
    (Response 18) Since the NPR was published, ASTM's subcommittee for 
infant bath tubs reviewed, balloted, and published a new standard 
(F2670-17) with improved warning formatting and content revisions in 
alignment with the NPR, except for the font size of certain warning 
statements. For the final rule, the Commission incorporates by 
reference ASTM F2670-17, without modification.
    (Comment 19) One commenter noted that the NPR contains several 
errors when referring to figures that show example warning labels. The 
Commenter stated:
     Figure 1 is missing from the NPR. The NPR starts with 
Figure 2;
     A reference to Figure 3 is missing in proposed section 
1234.2(b)(4)(i)(F);
     A reference to Figure 3 in proposed section 
1234.2(b)(6)(i)(B)(3) is inaccurate and should instead reference Figure 
4; and
     A reference to Figure 4 in proposed section 
1234.2(b)(6)(i)(B)(3) is inaccurate and should reference a different 
example warning label similar to Figure 3.
    (Response 19) The omission of Figure 1 from the NPR was 
intentional. Figure 1 is referenced in paragraph 5.6 of ASTM F2670-13, 
which the Commission proposed to incorporate by reference without 
modification. The NPR only discussed sections of the proposed rule that 
differed from ASTM F2670-13. Reusing Figure 1 in the NPR would have 
created two ``Figure 1'' designations in the final rule. Otherwise, we 
agree with the comment and references to figures are corrected in the 
final rule by incorporation of ASTM F2670-17 without modification.
    (Comment 20) A commenter stated that, while they appreciated CPSC 
staff's work on the proposed rule, they were concerned about staff's 
``ability to seemingly be able to arbitrarily change language or 
standards without any justification.'' In addition the commenter 
stated: ``[i]t is the role of the Commission, not professional staff to 
dictate changes in policy.'' (Emphasis in original).
    (Response 20) The Commission does not agree that staff 
``arbitrarily'' changes language in a standard ``without any 
justification.'' In fact, staff ensures that each package for proposed 
and final rules contains ample explanation and thorough documentation 
of the appropriate engineering and/or scientific analysis to support 
staff's recommendations. By voting to issue the NPR, the Commission 
expressed its policy decisions. Furthermore, at ASTM meetings, CPSC 
staff is not speaking for the Commission, but is expressing staff's 
views, based on staff's expertise.
    Moreover, since the proposed rule was published, CPSC staff 
continued participating on the ASTM Ad Hoc TG on warning labels. The Ad 
Hoc TG discussed labeling issues, including formatting, and a best-
practices approach for ASTM juvenile products standards warning labels 
moving forward. The latest version of the voluntary standard, ASTM 
F2670-17, incorporates the Ad Hoc TG's recommendations. For the final 
rule, the Commission incorporates by reference ASTM F2670-17, without 
modification.
    (Comment 21) A commenter stated that the text of the rule for 
infant bath tubs should be available for free and in the public domain, 
rather than incorporating by reference an ASTM standard that is subject 
to copyright restrictions. The commenter made several arguments 
supporting this contention, including:
     Citizens have the right ``without limitation, to read, 
speak, and disseminate the laws that we are required to obey, including 
laws that are critical to public safety and commerce'';
     the right to freedom of speech is ``imperiled'' if 
citizens cannot freely communicate provisions of law with each other;
     equal protection and due process are ``jeopardized'' if 
only citizens that can afford to purchase the law have access;
     the cost of obtaining standards incorporated by reference 
into current CPSC regulations would be in the hundreds of dollars to 
purchase, and would require consultation of other agencies regulations;

[[Page 15623]]

     public access to the law is crucial to CPSC's mission: 
``rationing access to the law hurts trade, it hurts public safety, and 
it makes it much more difficult for the CPSC to carry out its 
congressionally-mandated mission.''; and
     prohibiting the wide dissemination of the mandatory rules 
for durable infant standards makes the public less safe.
    The commenter argued that, based on fundamental principles in the 
Constitution and judicial opinions, as reviewed by the commenter, it is 
unlawful and unreasonable for the Commission to make voluntary 
standards mandatory without providing free access to the law.
    (Response 21) The infant bath tub standard is authorized by 
Congress under section 104 of the CPSIA. This CPSIA provision directs 
the Commission to issue standards for durable infant or toddler 
products that are ``substantially the same as,'' or more stringent 
than, applicable voluntary standards. Thus, unless the Commission 
determines that more stringent requirements are needed, the 
Commission's rule must be nearly the same as the voluntary standard. 
ASTM's voluntary standards are protected by copyright, which the 
Commission (and the federal government generally) must observe. The 
United States may be held liable for copyright infringement. 28 U.S.C. 
1498. The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has established 
procedures for incorporation by reference that seek to balance the 
interests of copyright protection and public accessibility of material. 
1 CFR part 51. The CPSC complies with these requirements whenever 
incorporating material by reference. In addition, when the Commission 
proposes a section 104 rule, ASTM's copyrighted voluntary standards are 
available for free during the comment period.
    The Commission's process for developing section 104 rules is open 
and transparent. CPSC staff works with stakeholders through the ASTM 
process, specifically the ASTM subcommittee responsible for each 
product type, to evaluate each voluntary standard and its ability to 
address the injuries found in CPSC's incident data. The ASTM 
subcommittee includes representatives from government, manufacturers, 
retailers, trade organizations, laboratories, and consumer advocacy 
groups, as well as consultants and members of the public. CPSC staff 
that participates in ASTM meetings are required to place such meetings 
on the Commission's public calendar, draft a meeting summary, and 
provide such summary to the Commission's Office of the Secretary, 
pursuant to 16 CFR 1031.11(f) and 1012. Once rulemaking commences, 
staff also places meeting summaries on the rulemaking docket. As 
required, the Commission's section 104 rulemakings follow notice and 
comment procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) with an 
NPR and a final rule that explain the substance of the proposed and 
final requirements.
    We disagree that the public is less safe because final rules under 
section 104 of the CPSIA are based on a voluntary standard. Voluntary 
standards generally can be updated more frequently than a traditionally 
enacted mandatory standard to respond to changing products and emerging 
hazards. Durable infant and toddler products, in particular, are 
subject to frequent product changes, including design modifications. 
Section 104 of the CPSIA also includes a mechanism allowing the CPSC to 
update the mandatory standard when voluntary standard modifications 
occur.
    (Comment 22) A commenter objected to the process for promulgating 
rules related to durable infant and toddler products under section 104 
of the CPSIA. More specifically, the commenter objected to the lack of 
availability and accessibility of the voluntary standard that the 
Commission proposes to incorporate by reference. The commenter stated 
that although ASTM made a copy of the voluntary standard that CPSC 
proposes to incorporate by reference into the rule available for 
viewing on ASTM's Web site:
     A redline of CPSC's modifications to the voluntary 
standard was not made available;
     the standard was ``read only'';
     the standard was displayed with a legal warning 
restricting use;
     the standard did not allow for copy and paste of the text 
in the standard; and
     the document is difficult for people with visual 
impairments to use.
    (Response 22) The Freedom of Information Act requires that the text 
of the material being incorporated by reference be ``reasonably 
available.'' 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1)(E); 1 CFR part 51. As set forth in 
response to comment 21, the Commission complies with this requirement. 
Nothing in the law requires the specific enhancements to text of the 
proposed mandatory standard articulated by the commenter.
    (Comment 23) A commenter suggested that a conflict of interest 
occurs when a government entity relies on a voluntary standards body, 
such as ASTM, that profits from the sale of what essentially becomes 
the law. The commenter stated that many government agencies have joined 
ASTM as organizational members, and that 44 CPSC employees are members 
of ASTM. The commenter also noted that the ASTM standard for infant 
bath tubs is five pages long and that when CPSC's proposed edits to the 
standard are incorporated, the standard is six to seven pages long. The 
commenter asserted that based on this: ``the government is clearly an 
author of this work.''
    (Response 23) CPSC staff did not author the voluntary standard on 
infant bath tubs. ASTM began working on the voluntary standard for 
infant bath tubs in 2006, well before the congressional mandate to 
issue mandatory standards based on the voluntary standards for durable 
infant and toddler products. CPSC staff contributed, as it always has, 
to the development of the voluntary standard to address incident data, 
along with all stakeholders who participate on the relevant 
subcommittee. Through the rulemaking process, the Commission assesses 
each voluntary standard for its ability to adequately address injuries 
found in CPSC's incident data. If the voluntary standard should be more 
stringent, the Commission proposes modifications for the mandatory 
rule. In the case of infant bath tubs, based on modifications made in 
the voluntary standard since issuance of the NPR, the Commission 
incorporates by reference the most recent voluntary standard, ASTM 
F2670-17, as the final rule for infant bath tubs, without modification.
    (Comment 24) A commenter argued that CPSC's Voluntary Standards 
Coordinator, by serving on the board of ANSI, has been placed in the 
position of ``serving two masters,'' as the person has a fiduciary 
responsibility to ANSI, as well as to his employer, the U.S. 
government. The commenter criticized the CPSC for not ``clearly 
delineat[ing] the roles government employees will take when assuming 
fiduciary responsibilities for private organizations.'' The commenter 
stated that although CPSC's Voluntary Standards Coordinator served on 
the board of ANSI, the CPSC had no memorandum of understanding (MOU) 
with ANSI regarding this relationship; and instead, CPSC asserted its 
reliance on the Commission's regulation at 16 CFR part 1031. The 
commenter stated that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has 
provided the guidance on government employees serving on the boards of 
external nonprofits, and the OGE recommends an MOU among the agency, 
employee and the nonprofit

[[Page 15624]]

organization to avoid violation of 18 U.S.C. 208(a).
    (Response 24) CPSC does not rely on a unique MOU among the agency, 
employee, and each voluntary standards organization. Because CPSC 
employees, based on job description, participate in different 
capacities with different organizations, the Commission has regulations 
(16 CFR part 1031) setting forth best practices and ethical 
responsibilities of employees involved in voluntary standards 
activities.

VI. Incorporation by Reference

    Section 1234.2(a) of the final rule provides that infant bath tubs 
must comply with ASTM F2670-17. The OFR has regulations concerning 
incorporation by reference. 1 CFR part 51. These regulations require 
that, for a final rule, agencies must discuss in the preamble to the 
rule the way in which materials that the agency incorporates by 
reference are reasonably available to interested persons, and how 
interested parties can obtain the materials. Additionally, the preamble 
to the rule must summarize the material. 1 CFR 51.5(b).
    In accordance with the OFR's requirements, the discussion in 
section VII of this preamble summarizes the provisions of ASTM F2670-
17. Interested persons may purchase a copy of ASTM F2670-17 from ASTM, 
either through ASTM's Web site, or by mail at the address provided in 
the rule. A copy of the standard may also be inspected at the CPSC's 
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or at 
NARA, as discussed above. Note that the Commission and ASTM arranged 
for commenters to have ``read only'' access to ASTM F2670-13 during the 
NPR's comment period.

VII. Description of the Final Rule

A. Final Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs

    For the final rule for infant bath tubs, the Commission will 
incorporate by reference ASTM F2670-17, without modification. ASTM 
F2670-17 contains both general and product-specific requirements to 
address the hazards associated with infant bath tubs. ASTM F2670-17 
includes the following key provisions: Scope, Terminology, General 
Requirements, Performance Requirements, Test Methods, Marking and 
Labeling, and Instructional Literature.
    Scope. Section 1 of ASTM F2670-17 provides the scope of products 
covered by the standard, which: ``establishes performance requirements, 
test methods, and labeling requirements to promote the safe use of 
infant bath tubs.'' As stated in section II.A. of this preamble, ASTM 
F2670-17 defines an ``infant bath tub'' as a ``tub, enclosure, or other 
similar product intended to hold water and be placed into an adult bath 
tub, sink, or on top of other surfaces to provide support or 
containment, or both, for an infant in a reclining, sitting, or 
standing position during bathing by a caregiver.'' This description 
includes ``bucket style'' tubs that support a child sitting upright, 
tubs with an inclined seat for infants too young to sit unsupported, 
inflatable tubs, folding tubs, and tubs with more elaborate designs 
including handheld shower attachments and even whirlpool settings. ASTM 
F2670-17 excludes from its scope ``products commonly known as bath 
slings, typically made of fabric or mesh.''
    Terminology. Section 3 of ASTM F2670-17 provides definitions of 
terms specific to the infant bath tub standard.
    General Requirements. Section 5 of ASTM F2670-17 sets forth general 
requirements for infant bath tubs, including:
     Sharp Edges or Points (referencing 16 CFR 1500.48 and 
1500.49);
     Small Parts (referencing 16 CFR 1501);
     Lead in Paint and Surface Coatings (referencing 16 CFR 
1303);
     Resistance to Collapse;
     Scissoring, Shearing, and Pinching;
     Openings;
     Protective Components;
     Requirements for Toys (incorporating ASTM F963); and
     Labeling.
    Performance Requirements and Test Methods. Section 6 of ASTM F2670-
17 contains performance requirements for restraint systems, static 
load, and suction cups. Section 7 of the standard sets forth test 
methods for the performance requirements set forth in sections 5 and 6 
of the standard.
    Marking and Labeling. Section 8 of ASTM F2670-17 contains 
requirements for marking products, including warnings that must be 
applied to the product and the product packaging. Section 8 sets forth 
the substance, format, and prominence requirements for warning 
information.
    Instructional Literature. Section 9 of ASTM F2670-17 requires that 
instructions provided with infant bath tubs be easy to read and 
understand. Additionally, the section contains requirements for 
instructional literature contents and format, as well as prominence of 
certain language.

B. Amendment to 16 CFR Part 1112 to Include NOR for Infant Bath Tubs 
Standard

    The final rule amends part 1112 to add a new Sec.  1112.15(b)(41) 
that lists 16 CFR part 1234, Safety Consumer Safety Specification for 
Infant Bath Tubs, as a children's product safety rule for which the 
Commission has issued an NOR. Section XIII of the preamble provides 
additional background information regarding certification of infant 
bath tubs and issuance of an NOR.

VIII. Effective Date

    The APA generally requires that the effective date of a rule be at 
least 30 days after publication of the final rule. 5 U.S.C. 553(d). 
CPSC generally considers 6 months to be sufficient time for suppliers 
of durable infant and toddler products to come into compliance with a 
new standard under section 104 of the CPSIA, and the Commission 
proposed a 6-month effective date in the NPR for infant bath tubs. We 
received no comments on the proposed effective date. Accordingly, the 
final rule will have a 6-month effective date. We note that two recent 
versions of the voluntary standard, ASTM F2670-16 and ASTM F2670-16a, 
both contain a majority of changes that align with the NPR, so 
manufacturers that comply with the voluntary standard will have had a 
year to prepare production to the new federal regulation.

IX. Regulatory Flexibility Act

A. Introduction

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, requires 
that agencies review a proposed rule and a final rule for the rule's 
potential economic impact on small entities, including small 
businesses. Section 604 of the RFA generally requires that agencies 
prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) when 
promulgating final rules, unless the head of the agency certifies that 
the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. As discussed in this analysis, adopting ASTM 
F2670-17 without modification would not be expected to have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    For the final rule, the Commission is incorporating by reference 
the voluntary standard for infant bath tubs, ASTM F2670-17, without 
modification. As set forth in section IX.B below, six of the 10 small 
manufacturers and four of the five small importers are already believed 
to be in compliance with the requirements of the voluntary standard. 
Because the products are not complex, modifications

[[Page 15625]]

required to bring the remaining products into compliance should be 
minor. All firms will need to make changes to their product's warning 
labels and use different equipment in the static load test. CPSC 
expects the cost of these modifications to be low. Firms will incur 
additional costs associated with third party testing. However, CPSC 
does not expect the impact of third party testing to be economically 
significant for most firms. Accordingly, the Commission certifies that 
the final rule for infant bath tubs will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

B. Impact on Small Businesses

    Under U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines, a 
manufacturer of infant bath tubs is small if it has 500 or fewer 
employees, and importers and wholesalers are considered small if they 
have 100 or fewer employees. Based on these guidelines, 16 of the 22 
domestic firms known to be supplying infant bath tubs to the U.S. 
market are small firms--10 manufacturers, five importers, and one firm 
with an unknown supply source.
1. Small Domestic Manufacturers
    The impact of the final rule on small manufacturers will differ, 
based on whether manufacturers' infant bath tubs are already compliant 
with F2670-16. Six domestic manufacturers are in compliance with ASTM 
F2670-16 and are likely to continue to comply with the new voluntary 
standard approved in Janury 2017, ASTM F2670-17. Firms in compliance 
with the voluntary standard will not need to make physical 
modifications to their products, but still will need to make some 
modifications to the warning labels on their products. However, the 
costs of modifying an existing label are usually small.
    Four domestic manufacturers appear to be noncompliant with ASTM 
F2607-16 and will need to modify their products in order to meet ASTM 
F2607-17. The Commission expects product modifications to be minor 
because the products are not complex; the products are generally 
composed of one or two pieces of hard or soft plastic molded together. 
Modifications to meet the standard primarily involve adjusting the size 
of grooves or openings on the side of the product to avoid finger 
entrapment. All firms will need to modify their warning labels to meet 
the mandatory standard. Staff believes 6 months is sufficient time to 
make the necessary changes and the costs associated with doing so are 
low. Therefore, the impact of the final rule is likely to be small for 
most producers who do not comply with ASTM F2607-16.
    Under section 14 of the CPSA, infant bath tubs are also subject to 
third party testing and certification. Once the new requirements become 
effective, all manufacturers will be subject to the additional costs 
associated with the third party testing and certification requirements 
under the testing rule, Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product 
Certification (16 CFR part 1107). Third party testing will include 
physical and mechanical test requirements specified in the infant bath 
tub final rule; lead and phthalates testing is already required. Third 
party testing costs are in addition to the direct costs of meeting the 
infant bath tub standard.
    Based on testing costs for similar juvenile products, staff 
estimates that testing to the ASTM voluntary standard could cost 
approximately $500-$600 per model sample. On average, each small 
domestic manufacturer supplies three different models of infant bath 
tubs to the U.S. market annually. Therefore, if third party testing 
were conducted every year on a single sample for each model, third 
party testing costs for each manufacturer would be about $1,500-1,800 
annually. Based on a review of firms' revenues and products, the impact 
of third party testing to ASTM F2670-17 would not exceed one percent of 
revenues. Thus, it seems unlikely that the impacts of the rule will be 
economically significant for most small producers.
2. Small Domestic Importers
    Most importers will not experience significant impacts as a result 
of the final rule. The Commission believes that four of the five small 
importers are compliant with the ASTM F2670-16 voluntary standard, and 
therefore only would need to assure that their suppliers make the label 
modifications to comply with the final rule. Complying with the final 
rule could be more difficult for the remaining importer because changes 
beyond simple modifications to the warning label are probably 
necessary. The remaining importer, who is likely not in compliance with 
the voluntary standard, might need to find an alternate source of 
infant bath tubs if their existing suppliers do not come into 
compliance with the requirements of the final rule. Alternatively, this 
firm may discontinue importing infant bath tubs altogether or perhaps 
substitute another product.
    As is the case with manufacturers, all importers will be subject to 
third party testing and certification requirements, and consequently, 
they will experience the associated costs, if their supplying foreign 
firm(s) does not perform third party testing. However, based on firms' 
revenues and on the number of samples that would be required, it is 
unlikely that there will be a significant economic impact due to the 
testing requirements.
    As mentioned above, one small domestic firm has an unknown supply 
source. However, the firm has a diverse product line and claims 
compliance with various standards for several of its other infant 
products. It is possible that the firm's infant bath tub is compliant 
with the current bath tub standard and the firm would only need to 
modify existing warning labels. In any case, this firm should not 
experience large impacts because infant bath tubs are only one of many 
products it supplies. The labeling requirements also apply to 
importers. However, as described above, staff believes firms can easily 
meet this requirement.

X. Environmental Considerations

    The Commission's regulations address whether the agency is required 
to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact 
statement. Under these regulations, a rule that has ``little or no 
potential for affecting the human environment,'' is categorically 
excluded from this requirement. 16 CFR 1021.5(c)(1). The final rule 
falls within the categorical exclusion.

XI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final rule for infant bath tubs contains information collection 
requirements that are subject to public comment and review by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The preamble to the proposed rule (80 FR 
at 48776-77) discussed the information collection burden of the 
proposed rule and specifically requested comments on the accuracy of 
our estimates. OMB has assigned control number 3041-0171 to this 
information collection. We did not receive any comment regarding the 
information collection burden of the proposal. However, the final rule 
makes modifications regarding the information collection burden because 
the number of estimated manufacturers subject to the information 
collection burden is now estimated at 25 manufacturers rather than the 
26 manufacturers initially estimated in the proposed rule.
    Accordingly, the estimated burden of this collection of information 
is modified as follows:

[[Page 15626]]



                                                       Table 1--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Number of       Frequency of     Total annual      Hours per       Total burden
                           16 CFR Section                              respondents       responses        responses         response          hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1234...............................................................              25                3               75                1               75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Our estimate is based on the following:
    Section 8.1 of ASTM F2670-17 requires that all infant bath tubs and 
their retail packaging be permanently marked or labeled as follows: The 
manufacturer, distributor, or seller name, place of business (city, 
state, mailing address, including zip code), and telephone number; and 
a code mark or other means that identifies the date (month and year as 
a minimum) of manufacture.
    CPSC is aware of 25 firms that supply infant bath tubs in the U.S. 
market. For PRA purposes, we assume that all 25 firms use labels on 
their products and on their packaging already. All firms will need to 
make some modifications to their existing labels. We estimate that the 
time required to make these modifications is about 1 hour per model. 
Each of the 25 firms supplies an average of three different models of 
infant bath tubs. Therefore, we estimate the burden hours associated 
with labels to be 75 hours annually (1 hour x 25 firms x 3 models per 
firm = 75 hours annually).
    We estimate the hourly compensation for the time required to create 
and update labels is $33.30 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
``Employer Costs for Employee Compensation,'' September 2016, Table 9, 
total compensation for all sales and office workers in goods-producing 
private industries: http://www.bls.gov/ncs/). Therefore, we estimate 
the annual cost to industry associated with the labeling requirements 
in the final rule to be approximately $2,498 ($33.30 per hour x 75 
hours = $2,497.5). This collection of information does not require 
operating, maintenance, or capital costs.
    In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)), we have submitted the information collection requirements of 
this final rule to the OMB.

XII. Preemption

    Section 26(a) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2075(a), provides that when a 
consumer product safety standard is in effect and applies to a product, 
no state or political subdivision of a state may either establish or 
continue in effect a requirement dealing with the same risk of injury 
unless the state requirement is identical to the federal standard. 
Section 26(c) of the CPSA also provides that states or political 
subdivisions of states may apply to the Commission for an exemption 
from this preemption under certain circumstances. Section 104(b) of the 
CPSIA refers to the rules to be issued under that section as ``consumer 
product safety rules.'' Therefore, the preemption provision of section 
26(a) of the CPSA applies to this final rule issued under section 104.

XIII. Amendment to 16 CFR Part 1112 To Include a Notice of Requirement 
for the Infant Bath Tub Standard

    Section 14(a) of the CPSA imposes the requirement that products 
subject to a consumer product safety rule under the CPSA, or to a 
similar rule, ban, standard, or regulation under any other Act enforced 
by the Commission, must be certified as complying with all applicable 
CPSC-enforced requirements. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a). Section 14(a)(2) of the 
CPSA requires that certification of children's products subject to a 
children's product safety rule be based on testing conducted by a CPSC-
accepted, third party conformity assessment body. Section 14(a)(3) of 
the CPSA requires the Commission to publish an NOR for the 
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies (or 
laboratories) to assess conformity with a children's product safety 
rule to which a children's product is subject. The Safety Standard for 
Infant Bath Tubs, to be codified at 16 CFR part 1234, is a children's 
product safety rule that requires the issuance of an NOR.
    The Commission published a final rule, Requirements Pertaining to 
Third-Party Conformity Assessment Bodies, 78 FR 15836 (March 12, 2013), 
which is codified at 16 CFR part 1112 (referred to here as part 1112). 
Part 1112 became effective on June 10, 2013 and establishes 
requirements for accreditation of third-party conformity assessment 
bodies (or laboratories) to test for conformance with a children's 
product safety rule in accordance with section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA. 
Part 1112 also codifies a list of all of the NORs that the CPSC had 
published at the time part 1112 was issued. All NORs issued after the 
Commission published part 1112, such as the standard for infant bath 
tubs, require the Commission to amend part 1112. Accordingly, the 
Commission is now amending part 1112 to include the standard for infant 
bath tubs in the list of other children's product safety rules for 
which the CPSC has issued NORs.
    Laboratories applying for acceptance as a CPSC-accepted third-party 
conformity assessment body to test to the new standard for infant bath 
tubs would be required to meet the third-party conformity assessment 
body accreditation requirements in 16 CFR part 1112, Requirements 
Pertaining to Third-Party Conformity Assessment Bodies. When a 
laboratory meets the requirements as a CPSC-accepted third-party 
conformity assessment body, the laboratory can apply to the CPSC to 
have 16 CFR part 1234, Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs, included 
in its scope of accreditation of CPSC safety rules listed for the 
laboratory on the CPSC Web site at: www.cpsc.gov/labsearch.
    As required by the RFA, staff conducted a FRFA when the Commission 
issued the part 1112 rule (78 FR 15836, 15855-58). Briefly, the FRFA 
concluded that the accreditation requirements would not have a 
significant adverse impact on a substantial number of small test 
laboratories because no requirements were imposed on test laboratories 
that did not intend to provide third-party testing services. The only 
test laboratories that were expected to provide such services were 
those that anticipated receiving sufficient revenue from the mandated 
testing to justify accepting the requirements as a business decision. 
Moreover, a test laboratory would only choose to provide such services 
if it anticipated receiving revenues sufficient to cover the costs of 
the requirements.
    Based on similar reasoning, amending 16 CFR part 1112 to include 
the NOR for the infant bath tubs standard will not have a significant 
adverse impact on small test laboratories. Moreover, based upon the 
number of test laboratories in the United States that have applied for 
CPSC acceptance of accreditation to test for conformance to other 
mandatory juvenile product standards, we expect that only a few test 
laboratories will seek CPSC acceptance of their accreditation to test 
for conformance with the infant bath tub standard. Most of these test 
laboratories will have

[[Page 15627]]

already been accredited to test for conformity to other mandatory 
juvenile product standards, and the only costs to them would be the 
cost of adding the infant bath tubs standard to their scope of 
accreditation. For these reasons, the Commission certifies that the NOR 
amending 16 CFR part 1112 to include the infant bath tubs standard will 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

List of Subjects

16 CFR Part 1112

    Administrative practice and procedure, Audit, Consumer protection, 
Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Third-party conformity assessment body.

16 CFR Part 1234

    Consumer protection, Imports, Incorporation by reference, Infants 
and children, Labeling, Law enforcement, bath tub, and Toys.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Commission amends 
Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 1112--REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO THIRD PARTY CONFORMITY 
ASSESSMENT BODIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 1112 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2063; Pub. L. 110-314, section 3, 122 
Stat. 3016, 3017 (2008).


0
2. Amend Sec.  1112.15 by adding paragraph (b)(41) to read as follows:


Sec.  1112.15   When can a third party conformity assessment body apply 
for CPSC acceptance for a particular CPSC rule and/or test method?

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (41) 16 CFR part 1234, Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs.
* * * * *

0
3. Add part 1234 to read as follows:

PART 1234--SAFETY STANDARD FOR INFANT BATH TUBS

Sec.
1234.1 Scope.
1234.2 Requirements for infant bath tubs.

    Authority:  The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, 
Pub. L. 110-314, 104, 122 Stat. 3016 (August 14, 2008); Pub. L. 112-
28, 125 Stat. 273 (August 12, 2011).


Sec.  1234.1   Scope.

    This part establishes a consumer product safety standard for infant 
bath tubs.


Sec.  1234.2   Requirements for infant bath tubs.

    Each infant bath tub must comply with all applicable provisions of 
ASTM F2670-17, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath 
Tubs, approved on January 1, 2017. The Director of the Federal Register 
approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy from ASTM 
International, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, P.O. Box 0700, West Conshohocken, 
PA 19428; http://www.astm.org/. You may inspect a copy at the Office of 
the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 
East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone 301-504-7923, or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-
6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federalregulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Dated: March 27, 2017.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2017-06270 Filed 3-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6355-01-P



                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                 15615

                                                                                                            Airway segment                                                                 Changeover points

                                                                               From                                                                   To                                Distance        From

                                                                                                               Is Amended To Delete Changeover Point

                                                SAYRE, OK VORTAC ....................................................   WILL ROGERS, OK VORTAC ......................................          40   SAYRE.



                                                [FR Doc. 2017–06294 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am]                  of the Danny Keysar Child Product                       standard, largely through the ASTM
                                                BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                       Safety Notification Act, requires the                   process. Based on modifications to the
                                                                                                             Commission to: (1) Examine and assess                   voluntary standard since the NPR
                                                                                                             the effectiveness of voluntary consumer                 published, the final rule incorporates by
                                                CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY                                      product safety standards for durable                    reference the most recent voluntary
                                                COMMISSION                                                   infant or toddler products, in                          standard, developed by ASTM
                                                                                                             consultation with representatives of                    International, ASTM F2670–17, without
                                                16 CFR Parts 1112 and 1234                                   consumer groups, juvenile product                       modification.
                                                                                                             manufacturers, and independent child                      Additionally, the final rule amends
                                                [Docket No. CPSC–2015–0019                                   product engineers and experts; and (2)                  the list of NORs issued by the
                                                                                                             promulgate consumer product safety                      Commission in 16 CFR part 1112 to
                                                Safety Standard for Infant Bath Tubs                                                                                 include the standard for infant bath
                                                                                                             standards for durable infant and toddler
                                                AGENCY:  Consumer Product Safety                             products. Standards issued under                        tubs. Under section 14 of the CPSA, the
                                                Commission.                                                  section 104 are to be ‘‘substantially the               Commission promulgated 16 CFR part
                                                ACTION: Final rule.                                          same as’’ the applicable voluntary                      1112 to establish requirements for
                                                                                                             standard or more stringent than the                     accreditation of third party conformity
                                                SUMMARY:    The Danny Keysar Child                           voluntary standard if the Commission                    assessment bodies (or testing
                                                Product Safety Notification Act, section                     concludes that more stringent                           laboratories) to test for conformity with
                                                104 of the Consumer Product Safety                           requirements would further reduce the                   a children’s product safety rule.
                                                Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA),                             risk of injury associated with the                      Amending part 1112 adds an NOR for
                                                requires the United States Consumer                          product.                                                the infant bath tub standard to the list
                                                Product Safety Commission                                       The term ‘‘durable infant or toddler                 of children’s product safety rules.
                                                (Commission or CPSC) to promulgate                           product’’ is defined in section 104(f)(1)
                                                                                                                                                                     II. Product Description
                                                consumer product safety standards for                        of the CPSIA as ‘‘a durable product
                                                durable infant or toddler products.                          intended for use, or that may be                        A. Definition of Infant Bath Tub
                                                These standards are to be ‘‘substantially                    reasonably expected to be used, by                         Paragraph 3.1.2 of ASTM F2670–17
                                                the same as’’ applicable voluntary                           children under the age of 5 years.’’                    defines an ‘‘infant bath tub’’ as a ‘‘tub,
                                                standards, or more stringent than the                        Section 104(f)(2) of the CPSIA lists                    enclosure, or other similar product
                                                voluntary standard if the Commission                         examples of durable infant or toddler                   intended to hold water and be placed
                                                concludes that more stringent                                products, including products such as                    into an adult bath tub, sink, or on top
                                                requirements would further reduce the                        ‘‘bath seats’’ and ‘‘infant carriers.’’                 of other surfaces to provide support or
                                                risk of injury associated with the                           Although section 104(f)(2) does not                     containment, or both, for an infant in a
                                                product. The Commission is issuing a                         specifically identify infant bath tubs, the             reclining, sitting, or standing position
                                                safety standard for infant bath tubs in                      Commission has defined an infant bath                   during bathing by a caregiver.’’
                                                response to the direction of section                         tub as a ‘‘durable infant or toddler                    Paragraph 1.1 of the voluntary standard
                                                104(b) of the CPSIA. In addition, the                        product’’ in the Commission’s product                   specifically excludes ‘‘products
                                                Commission is amending its regulations                       registration card rule under CPSIA                      commonly known as bath slings,
                                                regarding third party conformity                             section 104(d).1                                        typically made of fabric or mesh’’ from
                                                assessment bodies to include the                                On August 14, 2015, the Commission                   the scope of the standard.
                                                mandatory standard for infant bath tubs                      issued a notice of proposed rulemaking                     Infant bath tubs within the scope of
                                                in the list of notices of requirements                       (NPR) for infant bath tubs. 80 FR 48769.                the final rule include products of
                                                                                                             The NPR proposed to incorporate by                      various designs, such as ‘‘bucket style’’
                                                (NORs) issued by the Commission.
                                                                                                             reference the voluntary standard, ASTM                  tubs that support a child sitting upright,
                                                DATES: This rule will become effective                       F2670–13, Standard Consumer Safety
                                                October 2, 2017. The incorporation by                                                                                tubs with an inclined seat for infants too
                                                                                                             Specification for Infant Bath Tubs, with                young to sit unsupported, inflatable
                                                reference of the publication listed in                       several modifications to strengthen the
                                                this rule is approved by the Director of                                                                             tubs, folding tubs, and tubs with spa
                                                                                                             standard, as a mandatory consumer                       features, such as handheld shower
                                                the Federal Register as of October 2,                        product safety rule. In this document,
                                                2017.                                                                                                                attachments and even whirlpool
                                                                                                             the Commission is issuing a mandatory                   settings. Paragraph 6.1 of ASTM F2670–
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                             consumer product safety standard for                    17 permits infant bath tubs to have ‘‘a
                                                Keysha Walker, Compliance Officer,                           infant bath tubs. As required by section                permanent or removable passive crotch
                                                U.S. Consumer Product Safety                                 104(b)(1)(A), the Commission consulted
                                                                                                                                                                     restraint as part of their design,’’ but
                                                Commission, 4330 East West Highway,                          with manufacturers, retailers, trade
                                                                                                                                                                     does not permit ‘‘any additional
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone: 301–                          organizations, laboratories, consumer
                                                                                                                                                                     restraint system(s) which requires action
                                                504–6820; email: kwalker@cpsc.gov.                           advocacy groups, consultants, and the
                                                                                                                                                                     on the part of the caregiver to secure or
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                             public to develop this proposed
                                                                                                                                                                     release.’’
                                                I. Background and Statutory Authority                          1 Requirements for Consumer Registration of           B. Market Description
                                                                                                             Durable Infant or Toddler Products; Final Rule, 74
                                                  The CPSIA was enacted on August 14,                        FR 68668, 68669 (Dec. 29, 2009); 16 CFR                   Typically, infant bath tubs are
                                                2008. Section 104(b) of the CPSIA, part                      1130.2(a)(16).                                          produced and/or marketed by juvenile


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014     14:26 Mar 29, 2017    Jkt 241001   PO 00000     Frm 00007   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\30MRR1.SGM     30MRR1


                                                15616             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                product manufacturers and distributors.                 more detailed discussion of incident                  infant bath tubs occurred from 2004 to
                                                Currently, at least 25 manufacturers and                data that follows does not include year               2015, which were treated in U.S.
                                                importers supply infant bath tubs to the                2016 incidents.                                       hospital emergency departments.5 The
                                                U.S. market, including 22 domestic                                                                            injury estimates for individual years are
                                                                                                        1. Fatalities
                                                firms: 14 are domestic manufacturers,                                                                         not reportable because they fail to meet
                                                seven are domestic importers, and one                      Of the 31 decedents in the fatal                   publication criteria.6
                                                firm has an unknown supply source.                      incidents, 29 of the victims were                        One drowning death was reported
                                                Three foreign companies export directly                 between the ages of 4 months and 11                   through the NEISS and is included in
                                                to the United States via Internet sales or              months old; the other two fatalities were             the fatality counts for infant bath tubs.
                                                to U.S. retailers.2                                     a 23-month-old and a 3-year-old. The                  About 94 percent of the estimated
                                                   According to preliminary data                        fatalities were evenly split with 16                  emergency department visits during the
                                                collected with the CPSC’s 2013 Durable                  males and 15 females. In 30 of the 31                 11-year period involved infants 12
                                                Products Nursery Exposure Survey,                       fatalities, a parent or guardian was not              months of age or younger, and all but
                                                households with children under 6 years                  present at the time the incident                      three cases involved children 24 months
                                                old own approximately 8.9 million                       occurred. Drowning was the cause of                   of age or younger. The cases involving
                                                infant bath tubs. Of those,                             death reported for 30 of the 31 fatalities.           children older than 2 years of age
                                                approximately 4.4 million are currently                 The remaining fatality involved a child               included: A 5-year-old who received a
                                                in use.                                                 with ventricular septal defect, and the               laceration while playing with the infant
                                                                                                        coroner listed that the immediate cause               bath tub, a 3-year-old falling off an
                                                III. Incident Data                                      of death was attributed to pneumonia.                 infant tub, and a 6-year-old landing in
                                                A. Overview of Incident Data                            2. Nonfatal Incidents                                 a straddle position on an infant tub
                                                   The Commission is aware of a total of                   Thirty-two injuries were reported                  while getting out of a bathtub.
                                                247 incidents (31 fatal and 216 nonfatal)               among the 216 nonfatal incidents. Eight                  The estimated emergency department
                                                related to infant bath tubs that were                   of nine hospitalizations were due to                  visits were split almost evenly among
                                                reported to have occurred from January                  near-drowning, and one was due to a                   male (48%) and female (52%) children.
                                                2004 through December 2015. This total                  scalding water burn. In all eight near-               For the emergency department-treated
                                                includes 45 new infant bath tub-related                 drowning hospitalizations, the parent or              injuries related to infant bath tubs, the
                                                incidents reported since the NPR 3                      guardian had left the child alone for at              following characteristics occurred most
                                                (collected between May 20, 2015 and                     least a short period of time when the                 frequently:
                                                December 31, 2015). None of the newly                   incident occurred. Five additional near-                 • Hazard—falls (35%); a majority of
                                                reported incidents is a fatality. All of the            drowning incidents required emergency                 the reports did not specify the manner
                                                new incidents fall within the hazard                    department treatment. The remaining                   or cause of fall;
                                                patterns identified in the NPR. Just over               incidents ranged from rashes, upper                      • Injured body part—head (37%), all/
                                                half (146 out of 247 or 59 percent) of the              respiratory infections due to mold on                 over half of body (20%), and face (18%);
                                                reports were submitted to the CPSC by                   the product, slip and fall injury,                       • Injury type—internal organ injury
                                                retailers and manufacturers through the                 laceration by sharp edge, a hit on head               (included closed head injuries) (29%),
                                                CPSC’s ‘‘Retailer Reporting System.’’                   by toy accessory, and a concussion from               drowning or nearly drowning (20%),
                                                The remaining 101 incident reports                      falling from a tub.                                   and contusions/abrasions (18%);
                                                were submitted to the CPSC from                                                                                  • Disposition—treated and released
                                                various sources, such as the CPSC                       3. National Injury Estimates 4                        (83%) and admitted or transferred to a
                                                Hotline, Internet reports, newspaper                       Commission staff estimates a total of              hospital (14%).
                                                clippings, medical examiners, and other                 2,300 injuries (sample size = 89,
                                                state/local authorities.                                                                                      B. Hazard Pattern Characterization
                                                                                                        coefficient of variation = 0.18) related to           Based on Incident Data
                                                   More recently, staff also reviewed the
                                                incident data for 2016 and identified an                  4 The source of the injury estimates is the            Figure 1 shows the distribution of
                                                additional 34 incidents with no                         National Electronic Injury Surveillance System        hazard patterns for infant bath tubs by
                                                fatalities. Staff did not identify any new              (NEISS), a statistically valid injury surveillance    frequency.
                                                                                                        system. NEISS injury data is gathered from
                                                hazard patterns in the 2016 data. The                   emergency departments of hospitals that are
                                                                                                                                                                5 National injury estimates for 2004–2014 were
                                                                                                        selected as a probability sample of all the U.S.
                                                  2 Staffmade these determinations using                                                                      presented in the NPR.
                                                                                                        hospitals with emergency departments. The
                                                information from Dun & Bradstreet and Reference         surveillance data gathered from the sample              6 According to the NEISS publication criteria, an
                                                USAGov, as well as firm Web sites.                      hospitals enable CPSC staff to make timely national   estimate must be 1,200 or greater, the sample size
                                                  3 Data discussed in the NPR was collected from        estimates of the number of injuries associated with   must be 20 or greater, and the coefficient of
                                                January 1, 2004 through May 20, 2015.                   specific consumer products.                           variation must be 33 percent or smaller.
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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        15617




                                                   • Drowning/Near-Drownings account                    sling’’ attachment was involved in this               The body parts reportedly injured were
                                                for 17 percent (43 of 247) of reported                  type of protrusion incident. One                      fingers, arms, feet, legs, and genitalia.
                                                incidents. Of the 43 drowning or near-                  incident required a hospital visit, and               Many of these injuries occurred in tubs
                                                drowning incidents, 30 were fatalities                  the remaining 47 incidents involved no                that fold. The most common
                                                and 13 were near-drowning incidents.                    injury or a minor injury. The incident                components of the tubs causing injury
                                                Because no one witnessed most of the                    requiring a hospital visit involved a                 were the hinges, holes, and foot area
                                                incidents, Commission staff cannot                      scratch to the child’s back, caused by a              inside the tub. No reported incident
                                                determine a pattern that led to the                     screw that penetrated the tub wall.                   required a hospital visit. All of the
                                                submersions. However, in 38 of 43                          • Product Failures account for 34                  entrapment-related reports involved
                                                incidents, the parent or guardian was                   percent (85 of 247) of reported                       either no injury or a minor injury.
                                                not present at the time the incident                    incidents. Fifty-nine incidents reported                 • Slippery tub surface issues account
                                                occurred. Frequently, the child was                     the bath tub ‘‘hammock/sling’’                        for 6 percent (15 out of 247) of reported
                                                found floating. In the other five                       attachment collapsing, and eight                      incidents. Common reported incidents
                                                incidents in which the parent or                        additional incidents of the locking                   and concerns include scratches to the
                                                guardian was present, four of the                       mechanism failing or breaking. The                    body or protrusions that contact the
                                                children survived. Only one reported                    remaining 18 incidents involved various               body, or potential submersions,
                                                fatality was not ruled a drowning; this                 tub parts breaking. Of the 85 product                 including the head. One emergency
                                                incident is included in the                             failures, two incidents required a trip to            room visit was due to a child slipping
                                                miscellaneous category.                                 the hospital, and the remaining                       under water and swallowing some
                                                   • Protrusion/Sharp/Laceration issues                 incidents reported either no injury or a              water; the rest of the reports involved
                                                account for 19 percent (48 of 247) of                   minor injury. The two children who                    either no injury or a minor injury.
                                                reported incidents. A protrusion is                     required hospital trips were treated and                 • Mold/Allergy issues account for 5
                                                commonly a part of the product that                     released. One of these incidents was due              percent (12 of 247) of reported
                                                sticks out or has a rough surface; and in               to a toy breaking off from the tub and                incidents. Of the 12 incidents, eight
                                                the incidents reported, the child rubbed                causing a deep cut to the victim’s                    were due to mold, and four were due to
                                                against the protruding part in some way,                forehead. The second incident was due                 allergy. Reported issues included a
                                                which caused red marks, cuts, or                        to a leg collapsing on a tub placed on                variety of symptoms: Itching, rashes,
                                                bruising. The injured body parts                        a counter top; as a result, the child fell            foul odor, respiratory concerns, and a
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                reportedly included toes, feet, bottom,                 from the counter top to the floor and                 urinary tract infection. Eight incidents
                                                genitalia, and back. In 29 of 39                        suffered a concussion.                                involved a single tub make and model,
                                                incidents, the part of the infant bath tub                 • Entrapment issues account for 8                  including six with mold issues and two
                                                described as a ‘‘bump’’ or ‘‘hump’’                     percent (20 of 247) of reported                       with allergy issues. Two of the 12
                                                caused a red mark on the infant’s back                  incidents. Entrapment incidents involve               incidents involved emergency room
                                                or discomfort to the infant in the bath                 body parts caught or stuck on parts of                visits: One child may have developed an
                                                                                                                                                                                                          ER30MR17.040</GPH>




                                                tub. Typically, the bath tub ‘‘hammock/                 the tub, mostly in a pinching manner.                 upper respiratory issue and one child


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                                                15618             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                broke out in a rash throughout the                        In the time since the NPR was                       to separate the warnings to identify
                                                child’s back. Seven additional incidents                published, ASTM approved and                          more clearly the drowning hazard and
                                                required medical treatment: Four                        published three more versions of the                  fall hazard and to provide guidance on
                                                reported itching and rashes, one                        voluntary standard. The most recent                   how to avoid these hazards.
                                                reported a urinary tract infection, and                 version, ASTM F2670–17, was approved                  Additionally, the NPR proposed
                                                one reported mold spores on the                         and published on January 1, 2017. As                  warning language that was more
                                                genitalia.                                              explained below, ASTM F2670–17                        personal by use of the word ‘‘baby.’’ For
                                                   • Miscellaneous issues account for                   addresses all of the Commission’s                     example, the NPR used the word
                                                the remaining 10 percent (24 of 247) of                 proposed modifications and concerns                   ‘‘babies’’ as opposed to ‘‘infant’’ and the
                                                the reported incidents. The incidents                   described in the NPR, allowing the                    phrase ‘‘stay in arm’s reach of your
                                                included a fall from the tub, an unstable               Commission to adopt ASTM F2670–17,                    baby’’ as opposed to ‘‘ALWAYS keep
                                                tub, missing pieces, leaking or                         without modification, as the mandatory                infant within adult’s reach.’’
                                                overheating batteries, rust, and scalding.              safety standard for infant bath tubs.                    After the NPR, the warning content in
                                                One incidental fatality and one hospital                                                                      the voluntary standard was revised to be
                                                                                                        A. Revised Latching or Locking                        consistent with the modifications in the
                                                visit fall in this miscellaneous category.
                                                                                                        Mechanism Requirements                                NPR, except for one statement. ASTM
                                                The fatality involved a child with a
                                                ventricular septal defect, with the death                  The NPR proposed a modification to                 F2670–17 contains a revision to the
                                                attributed to pneumonia. A scalding                     F2670–13 to allow more time for the                   hazard statement ‘‘Keep drain open,’’
                                                incident in which a parent poured hot                   latching or locking mechanism testing to              clarifying that caregivers should keep
                                                water from the stove onto the foam                      accommodate more complicated                          the drain in an adult tub open during
                                                cushion in the infant bath tub and then                 mechanisms. Through the ASTM                          bathing, stating ‘‘Keep drain open in
                                                placed the child in the tub resulted in                 process, the wording and rationale for                adult tub or sink.’’ The Commission
                                                the hospital visit. The remaining reports               the latching or locking mechanism                     agrees that the added statement clarifies
                                                were either an incident with no injury                  durability testing in paragraph 7.1.2 of              the direction to caregivers. Accordingly,
                                                or a minor injury, including six battery-               F2670 evolved. The language is                        the final rule adopts the revised warning
                                                related complaints.                                     consistent with the language in the NPR               content in ASTM F2670–17, without
                                                                                                        and is now incorporated into ASTM                     modification.
                                                IV. Overview and Assessment of ASTM                     F2670–17. For the final rule, the
                                                F2670                                                                                                         D. Warning Label Format
                                                                                                        Commission is adopting the language in
                                                                                                        7.1.2 of F2670–17, without                               At the time of the NPR, F2670–13 did
                                                   ASTM F2670, Standard Consumer
                                                                                                        modification.                                         not require any specific formatting for
                                                Safety Specification for Infant Bath
                                                                                                                                                              warning statements. The NPR proposed
                                                Tubs, is the voluntary standard that was                B. Revised Static Load Requirements                   specific changes to the format of
                                                developed to address the identified                                                                           warning statements consistent with
                                                hazard patterns associated with the use                   The NPR proposed a modification to
                                                                                                        paragraph 7.4.2 of F2670–13 to change                 ANSI Z535.4, American National
                                                of infant bath tubs. The standard was                                                                         Standard for Product Safety Signs and
                                                first approved by ASTM in 2009, and                     the static load test apparatus to a shot
                                                                                                        bag, which was recommended by the                     Labels. CPSC staff regularly cites ANSI
                                                then revised in 2010, twice in 2011,                                                                          Z535.4 as a baseline in developing
                                                2012, 2013, twice in 2016, and the                      ASTM subcommittee, but not yet
                                                                                                        balloted through ASTM at the time of                  warning materials. Since the NPR was
                                                newest version was approved on                                                                                published, ASTM convened a task
                                                January 1, 2017. The NPR referenced                     the NPR. ASTM has now balloted the
                                                                                                        revision, which is included in F2670–                 group, the ASTM Ad Hoc Wording Task
                                                ASTM F2670–13, with the following                                                                             Group (Ad Hoc TG), which consists of
                                                modifications to the ASTM standard to                   17. The revised language is consistent
                                                                                                        with the modifications in the NPR, and                members of the various durable nursery
                                                adequately address hazard patterns                                                                            product voluntary standards
                                                identified in the incident data:                        thus, the Commission adopts paragraph
                                                                                                        7.4.2 of F2670–17 for the final rule,                 committees, including CPSC staff. The
                                                   1. Revised latching or locking                                                                             purpose of the Ad Hoc TG is to
                                                mechanism testing protocol.                             without modification.
                                                                                                                                                              harmonize the wording, as well as
                                                   2. Revised static load testing protocol.             C. Revised Content of the Warnings,                   warning format, across durable infant
                                                   3. Revised content of the warnings,                  Markings, and Instructions                            and toddler product ASTM voluntary
                                                markings, and instructions:                                                                                   standards. CPSC’s Human Factors
                                                                                                           The NPR proposed that the drowning
                                                   (a) Changed the text in the drowning                 and fall hazard warnings state:                       Division hazard communication subject
                                                warnings, and                                              Drowning Hazard: Babies have                       matter expert, who also is the CPSC staff
                                                   (b) added fall hazard warning.                       drowned while using infant bath tubs.                 representative on the ANSI Z535
                                                   4. Specified a standard format                          • Stay in arm’s reach of your baby.                committee, represents CPSC staff on this
                                                (including black text on a white                           • Use in empty adult tub or sink.                  task group. ASTM’s Ad Hoc TG
                                                background, table design, bullet points,                   • Keep drain open.                                 recommendations related to the format
                                                and black border) for the warnings on                      Fall Hazard: Babies have suffered                  of warning statements were published
                                                the product, on the packaging, and in                   head injuries falling from infant bath                as a reference document entitled, ‘‘Ad
                                                the instructions.                                       tubs.                                                 Hoc Wording—May 4, 2016,’’ as part of
                                                   5. Required that the safety alert                       • Place tub only [insert                           the F15 Committee Documents. The
                                                symbol and the word ‘‘WARNING’’ on                      manufacturer’s intended locations(s) for              approved Ad Hoc Wording guidance
                                                the drowning hazard label be ‘‘at least                 safe use (e.g., in adult tub, sink or on              document recommends formatting
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                0.4 in. (10mm) high unless stated                       floor; in adult tub or on floor)].                    requirements that are similar to the
                                                otherwise, shall be the same size, and                     • Never lift or carry baby in tub.                 ANSI Z535.4 requirements, with
                                                shall be in bold capital letters. The                      Although ASTM F2670–13 contained                   modifications intended to make the Ad
                                                remainder of the text shall be in                       warning statements for both drowning                  Hoc TG’s recommendations more
                                                characters whose upper case shall be at                 and fall hazards, the warning header                  stringent.
                                                least 0.2 in. (5 mm) high unless stated                 only identified drowning as the hazard.                  After publication of the Ad Hoc
                                                otherwise.’’                                            The Commission proposed in the NPR                    Wording recommendation, the ASTM


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         15619

                                                committee for infant bath tubs balloted                   label. The warning label changes in                  rule on infant bath tubs and urges the
                                                and approved incorporation of the Ad                      F2670–17 bring the formatting and                    ASTM subcommittee to finalize the
                                                Hoc Wording guidance                                      language of the warning label into close             inclusion of infant bath hammock/sling
                                                recommendations into ASTM F2670–17.                       alignment with the NPR proposal,                     requirements to the ASTM standard.
                                                Commission staff states that adopting                     except for the size requirements. The                  If the voluntary standard for infant
                                                the Ad Hoc Wording guidance                               Commission concludes that all of the                 bath tubs is revised to include
                                                document recommendations provides                         formatting and wording revisions                     requirements for infant bath slings used
                                                noticeable and consistent warning                         incorporated into ASTM F2670–17                      with an infant bath tub and the
                                                labels, including warning formatting, on                  improve the labeling over the labeling in            Commission is notified of the revised
                                                infant bath tubs and across juvenile                      F2670–13, referenced in the NPR. The                 standard by ASTM, CPSC staff will
                                                products. Therefore, for the final rule,                  Commission cannot state definitively                 assess the revised voluntary standard.
                                                the Commission adopts the warning                         that increasing the font size of this                Staff will then make a recommendation
                                                formatting requirements incorporated                      particular warning statement will                    to the Commission regarding whether to
                                                into ASTM F2670–17, without                               influence caregiver behavior more than               revise the mandatory standard for infant
                                                modification.                                             the totality of formatting changes                   bath tubs to incorporate new provisions
                                                                                                          already incorporated into ASTM F2670–                on infant bath slings, using the process
                                                E. Warning Label Font Size                                17. However, in an August 10, 2016                   for updating durable infant and toddler
                                                  The NPR proposed to increase the                        letter to ASTM,8 CPSC staff encouraged               product rules pursuant to section 104 of
                                                font size of the safety alert symbol, and                 further exploration of the increased size            the CPSIA. Similarly, if ASTM creates a
                                                the word ‘‘WARNING,’’ to be not less                      of the warnings to determine whether                 new voluntary standard related to infant
                                                than 0.4 in. (10 mm) high and the                         these additional changes will provide                bath slings that are used separately or as
                                                remainder of the text with upper case                     even greater effect. Therefore, the final            tub accessories, CPSC staff will assess
                                                characters not less than 0.2 in. (5 mm)                   rule incorporates by reference ASTM                  the ASTM standard and make a
                                                high.7 The Commission proposed this                       F2670–17, without any modifications.                 recommendation to the Commission
                                                revision to align the font size for infant                                                                     whether to create a new mandatory
                                                                                                          F. Infant Bath Slings
                                                bath tub labeling with ASTM F1967,                                                                             durable infant and toddler standard
                                                Standard Consumer Safety                                     Updated incident data for the final               under section 104 of the CPSIA for such
                                                Specifications for Infant Bath Seats,                     rule demonstrates that 59 of the 85                  products.
                                                which is already incorporated into a                      ‘‘product failure’’ incidents involve the
                                                                                                          infant bath hammock or sling                         V. Response to Comments
                                                federal standard. Similar to bath tub
                                                incidents, bath seat incidents also                       collapsing. No injuries or minor injuries               The August 14, 2015 NPR solicited
                                                include drownings associated with                         resulted from the bath hammock/sling                 information and comments concerning
                                                caregivers leaving children unattended.                   incidents. In October 2016, CPSC                     all aspects of the NPR, and specifically
                                                Currently, increased font size for                        recalled the infant bath tub with a sling            asked about the cost of compliance
                                                warning statements is unique to the                       accessory that was involved in the                   with, and testing to, the proposed
                                                infant bath seats voluntary and                           majority of infant bath sling incidents.9            mandatory infant bath tub standard, the
                                                                                                             Currently, ASTM F2670–17 does not                 proposed 6-month effective date for the
                                                mandatory standards. The Ad Hoc
                                                                                                          include provisions that will specifically            new mandatory rule and the
                                                Wording guidance document does not
                                                                                                          address the incidents involving bath                 amendment to part 1112. The
                                                include this modification. The Ad Hoc
                                                                                                          hammocks/slings. Staff advises that the              Commission received 12 comments
                                                Wording guidance document
                                                                                                          ASTM subcommittee on bath tubs is                    related to the NPR. Seven commenters
                                                recommends that the font size of the
                                                                                                          working to evaluate this issue, but has              expressed general support of the NPR,
                                                safety alert symbol, and the word                         not yet completed its work. CPSC staff
                                                ‘‘WARNING,’’ be not less than 0.2 in. (5                                                                       along with additional, more specific,
                                                                                                          continues to work with two ASTM task                 comments. Five commenters either
                                                mm) high and the remainder of the text                    groups formed to address the risks of
                                                with upper case characters be not less                                                                         requested more time for the ASTM
                                                                                                          bath slings. One group is developing                 committee to consider the NPR
                                                than 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) high. ASTM                          performance requirements for infant
                                                F2670–17 follows the Ad Hoc Wording                                                                            proposals and revise the voluntary
                                                                                                          bath slings that only can be used with               standard, as appropriate, or disagreed
                                                guidance document, and does not                           infant bath tubs. A second group is
                                                include the increased font size that the                                                                       with some of the proposed requirements
                                                                                                          developing requirements for infant bath              in the NPR. Comments and other
                                                Commission proposed in the NPR.                           slings that are used separately or as tub
                                                  The Commission recognizes that the                                                                           supporting documentation, such as
                                                                                                          accessories, which will be addressed                 summaries of ASTM meetings, are
                                                Ad Hoc Wording guidance document                          under a new, separate standard. CPSC
                                                improves the warning label format, and                                                                         available on: www.Regulations.gov, by
                                                                                                          staff states that new requirements for               searching Docket No. CPSC–2015–0019.
                                                therefore, the effectiveness of the                       bath hammocks/slings that can be used
                                                warning statements. ASTM F2670–17                                                                                 We summarize the comments
                                                                                                          with an infant bath tub will be added to             received on the NPR and CPSC’s
                                                contains all of the Ad Hoc Wording                        the voluntary standard in the near
                                                guidance document recommendations.                                                                             responses below.
                                                                                                          future, as the task group is preparing to
                                                As stated above, the specific formatting                  present recommendations to the larger                A. Test Requirements
                                                changes in the AD Hoc Wording                             subcommittee during an April 2017                      (Comment 1) Two commenters
                                                guidance follow the guidance of ANSI                      ASTM meeting, and anticipates                        recommended that the text of the static
                                                Z535.4, differing from what was                           balloting of the new provisions shortly              load test protocol match the ASTM
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                proposed in the NPR only in terms of                      after the meeting. Therefore, the                    F2670 standard language. The
                                                the specific size exception that had been                 Commission is proceeding with a final                commenters noted that wording in the
                                                proposed for the drowning warning                                                                              NPR was similar to what was balloted
                                                                                                             8 https://www.regulations.gov/
                                                                                                                                                               and approved by ASTM, but not exact.
                                                  7 This requirement applies to a separate drowning       document?D=CPSC-2015-0019-0023.
                                                hazard label and if the drowning and fall hazard             9 https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Summer-
                                                                                                                                                                 (Response 1) At the time of the NPR,
                                                labels are displayed together. If the fall hazard label   Infant-Recalls-Infant-Bath-Tubs (viewed on Web       staff recommended using the exact
                                                is separate, smaller text size applies.                   site 11/22/2016.)                                    wording that the ASTM subcommittee


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                                                15620             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                was proposing. After the NPR, the                       B. Incident Data                                      the NPR. Incident data maintained by
                                                ASTM subcommittee chairman made                            (Comment 6) One commenter                          the ASTM subcommittee is described by
                                                editorial changes to the proposal, which                questioned whether CPSC staff shared                  the commenter. CPSC staff provided 167
                                                resulted in slight differences between                  all of CPSC’s incident data with ASTM.                infant bath tub-related incidents to
                                                the ASTM wording and the NPR                            The NPR referenced 202 incidents                      ASTM in fall 2014. Thirty incidents
                                                wording. The Commission agrees that                     related to infant bath tubs, while CPSC               involved a fatality and 137 reports
                                                the static load test protocol language                  staff reported to ASTM an awareness of                described a nonfatal incident. When the
                                                reflected in ASTM F2670–17 is nearly                    156 incidents that occurred from 2004                 ASTM subcommittee prepared its data,
                                                the same as the language proposed in                    to 2014. The commenter questioned                     12 nonfatal incidents provided by CPSC
                                                the NPR, and will accept the ASTM                       whether CPSC had included ‘‘sling’’                   staff were not included in the
                                                F2670–17 language in the final rule,                    data in its incident review for the NPR,              subcommittee’s spreadsheet. CPSC
                                                without modification.                                   noting that sling accessories are not                 document numbers for these 12
                                                   (Comment 2) Two commenters                           included in the scope of the current                  incidents (some have been investigated)
                                                recommended including the revised                       ASTM standard.                                        are: H0430279A, I07B0418A,
                                                static load test protocol rationale (X1.2                  (Response 6) CPSC staff included bath              I1170518A, I1210049A, H1330201A,
                                                Section 7.4.2) in the final rule.                       slings data in its incident review for the            I1380526A, I1390145A, I13B0030A,
                                                                                                        NPR and provided such data to ASTM.                   I1430085A, I1430327A, I1450108A,
                                                   (Response 2) Consistent with the                                                                           60318884. Of the 12 incidents, 11
                                                response to comment 1, the Commission                   Inclusion of this data prompted ASTM
                                                                                                        to form two task groups to address                    involved slings, and one involved a
                                                agrees that the rationale for the static                                                                      faucet adapter, which was later
                                                load test protocol language reflected in                incidents related to bath slings. One
                                                                                                        group is developing performance                       determined to be out of scope for this
                                                ASTM F2670–17 be included in the                                                                              product category.
                                                final rule, without modification.                       requirements for infant bath slings that
                                                                                                        only can be used with infant bath tubs.                  (Comment 7) One commenter stated
                                                   (Comment 3) Two commenters stated                                                                          that incidents related to infant bath tubs
                                                                                                        ASTM intends to include these
                                                that the Latching or Locking Mechanism                                                                        have declined significantly over the
                                                                                                        requirements in ASTM F2670. A second
                                                Durability test protocol in the NPR is                                                                        years. The commenter stated that no
                                                                                                        group is developing requirements for
                                                identical to what has been balloted and                                                                       urgency for a rule on infant bath tubs
                                                                                                        infant bath slings that are used
                                                approved for a revision to F2670. The                                                                         exists because of this decline.
                                                                                                        separately or as tub accessories, which
                                                commenters requested that the final rule                                                                         (Response 7) CPSC is issuing the final
                                                                                                        will be addressed under a new, separate
                                                accept this language.                                                                                         rule for infant bath tubs to fulfill a
                                                                                                        voluntary standard.
                                                   (Response 3) The Commission agrees                      With regard to data discrepancies                  congressional mandate under section
                                                with the Latching or Locking                            between CPSC and ASTM, such                           104 of the CPSIA to create mandatory
                                                Mechanism Durability test language in                   discrepancies may exist for several                   standards for durable infant and toddler
                                                ASTM F2670–17 Section 7.1 and will                      reasons. First, the scope of the data sets            products. Moreover, NPR data consisted
                                                incorporate this revision into the final                may be different. For example, the NPR                of incidents received by CPSC on or
                                                rule, without modification.                             data included incidents reported to                   before May 20, 2015. Accordingly, any
                                                   (Comment 4) Two commenters                           CPSC involving infant bath tubs                       comparison of the number of incidents
                                                recommended including the revised                       received from January 1, 2004, through                reported to CPSC that occurred in 2015
                                                Latching or Locking Mechanism                           May 20, 2015. The data delivered to                   to any past years is inappropriate
                                                Durability test language rationale (X1.1                ASTM for the fall 2014 meetings                       because the data from past years do not
                                                Section 7.1.2) in the final rule.                       included data received by CPSC through                represent the full year of 2015 data. In
                                                                                                        July 24, 2014. CPSC provided an                       the NPR, of the overall 31 fatalities, four
                                                   (Response 4) The Commission agrees.
                                                                                                        additional update to ASTM for the                     deaths were reported in each of 2010
                                                The final rule incorporates the rationale
                                                                                                        spring 2016 meeting.                                  and 2011; two deaths were reported in
                                                for the Latching or Locking Mechanism
                                                                                                           Second, CPSC cannot share                          2012; and one each was reported in
                                                Durability test protocol language
                                                                                                        confidential data with ASTM. The CPSC                 2013 and 2014. In the most current
                                                reflected in ASTM F2670–17.
                                                                                                        rulemaking packages include all data                  infant bath tub Epidemiology
                                                   (Comment 5) One commenter                            received by staff; this includes data                 memorandum, Tab A of the staff
                                                recommended that stands for bath tubs                   received through the Retailer Reporting               briefing package for a final rule on
                                                be included in the final rule. The                      Program (RRP). Tab A to the staff’s                   infant bath tubs, staff states that as of
                                                commenter indicated that the current                    briefing package for the final rule on                February 17, 2016, CPSC has not
                                                voluntary standard does not include                     infant bath tubs demonstrates that CPSC               received any fatal incident reports for
                                                stands, but stated a concern about an                   received a sizeable portion of the                    infant bath tubs. CPSC generally does
                                                influx into the U.S. market of European-                nonfatal incident data through RRP; the               not expect completed reporting of fatal
                                                designed products that have matching                    same was true for the NPR. Because RRP                incidents for a particular year for 2 to
                                                stands.                                                 information is submitted confidentially,              3 years later, due to lag time of the many
                                                   (Response 5) The Commission is                       CPSC provides a general summary of                    ways fatal incidents are reported to
                                                aware that infant bath tub stands are not               RRP data for rulemaking packages, but                 CPSC. For instance, CPSC does not
                                                covered by the current voluntary                        cannot share incident details received                expect all reported 2014 fatalities to be
                                                standard, ASTM F2670–17. CPSC staff                     through the RRP with ASTM, unless                     received by CPSC until around late
                                                advised that staff is not aware of any                  CPSC completes a follow-up in-depth                   2016, or sometime in 2017. Because of
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                                                incident data involving bath tub stands.                investigation, or such reports were also              the lag time in receiving incident data,
                                                CPSC staff will monitor incident data                   received from other sources.                          CPSC does not publish or draw
                                                and the retail market for use of these                     Third, the Infant Bath Tub                         conclusions using the number of
                                                products. Currently, however, based on                  subcommittee appears to maintain data                 fatalities reported in the most recent
                                                the lack of incident data, the                          in a manner that does not match                       years. It is possible, and would not be
                                                Commission is not including bath tub                    identically to incident data supplied by              unexpected, for additional infant bath
                                                stands in the final rule.                               CPSC staff nor to the incident data in                tub fatalities that occurred in 2014 or


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         15621

                                                2015, to be reported to CPSC in the                     that, among other things, are intended to             can be used to convey a hazard more
                                                future.                                                 ensure that the bath tub will not                     effectively, especially for consumers
                                                  Recent data collection on infant bath                 collapse or break during use and that                 with limited or no English literacy.
                                                tub incidents reported to CPSC on or                    any latching or locking mechanisms on                 However, CPSC staff advises that the
                                                before February 17, 2016 reflect an                     the product are durable.                              design of effective graphics can be
                                                increase in the number of nonfatal                         (Comment 10) One commenter stated                  difficult. For example, some seemingly
                                                incidents related to infant bath tubs for               that the cost of labelling is not as small            obvious graphics are poorly understood
                                                the years 2013 (26 reports), 2014 (31                   as indicated in the NPR. Although the                 and can give rise to consumer
                                                reports), and 2015 (44 reports). CPSC                   commenter agreed that the labelling                   interpretations that are opposite of what
                                                also experiences a lag time between the                 costs are one-time costs, the commenter               the message of the graphic is intended
                                                date of a nonfatal incident and CPSC                    said it would take ‘‘multiple years to                to convey (deemed ‘‘critical confusions’’
                                                receiving the reports.                                  recoup the loss in margin.’’ The                      in human factors literature). Use of
                                                                                                        commenter did not provide an estimate                 icons and pictograms generally require
                                                C. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                                                                        of the labelling costs. The commenter                 a consumer study to ensure that the
                                                (IRFA)
                                                                                                        stated that the commenter would likely                intended message is conveyed.
                                                   (Comment 8) One commenter, a                         ‘‘cease manufacturing inflatable infant               However, if revised warning statements
                                                domestic manufacturer of inflatable                     bathtubs for sale in the U.S’’ if the                 prove to be inadequate to address safety
                                                infant bathtubs, stated that it would be                standard is codified as it is currently               hazards associated with infant bath
                                                adversely affected by defining                          written.                                              tubs, CPSC staff may recommend
                                                ‘‘inflatable bathtubs’’ to be durable                      (Response 10) Although the                         developing graphic symbols in the
                                                products falling within the scope of a                  commenter asserted that the labelling                 future to further reduce the risk of
                                                mandatory rule. The commenter stated                    cost would be greater than indicated,                 injury. Currently, however, the
                                                that the proposed rule would require the                the commenter did not provide any                     Commission is not mandating use of
                                                manufacturer to provide consumers                       specific estimates of the expected                    graphics for warning labels in the infant
                                                with prepaid product registration cards                 labelling costs. Without more                         bath tubs final rule.
                                                and to provide an option for consumers                  information, the Commission cannot                       (Comment 13) A commenter stated:
                                                to register products via the Internet. The              provide a specific response to this                   ‘‘any safety wording should be equally
                                                commenter asserted that this would                      comment.                                              visible in Spanish as well as English.’’
                                                increase its costs by 1.5 to 2.0 percent                                                                         (Response 13) The NPR states that the
                                                on an ongoing basis.                                    D. Performance and Labelling                          warning label shall appear, at a
                                                   (Response 8) The requirement that                    Requirements                                          minimum, in the English language. The
                                                manufacturers of durable infant or                         (Comment 11) Two commenters                        Commission does not dismiss the
                                                toddler products provide each consumer                  requested that CPSC in the mandatory                  usefulness of providing warnings in
                                                with a product registration card was                    rule require a maximum water fill line                Spanish and other non-English
                                                established by the Consumer Product                     on infant bath tubs. One commenter                    languages, and recognizes that adding
                                                Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and                     suggested that the ‘‘fill line demarcation            Spanish versions of the warnings most
                                                not by the this rule on infant bath tubs.               be specified at depths of no greater than             likely would improve warning
                                                In 16 CFR part 1130, the Commission                     2 inches.’’ The other commenter                       readability among the U.S. population
                                                determined that infant bath tubs are                    suggested the manufacturer be                         more than adding any other language.
                                                durable infant or toddler products. No                  responsible for providing a maximum                   Nevertheless, the Commission’s
                                                exclusion was made for inflatable bath                  fill line that is in a ‘‘suitable position.’’         incident data analyses for infant bath
                                                tubs. Therefore, the statutory and                         (Response 11) A similar suggestion to              tubs have not revealed a pattern of
                                                regulatory requirements concerning the                  require a water fill line was raised in the           incidents involving people who speak
                                                provision of product registration cards                 rulemaking for infant bath seats. For the             Spanish. Accordingly, the final rule
                                                to consumers already apply to                           same reason we gave in that rulemaking,               does not require warnings to be in
                                                manufacturers of inflatable infant bath                 the Commission will not include a                     English and Spanish, but does not
                                                tubs and will be unaffected by the final                water fill line in the infant bath tubs               prohibit manufacturers from providing
                                                rule.                                                   final rule. CPSC staff has voiced concern             the required warnings in another
                                                   (Comment 9) One commenter stated:                    that a water fill line on infant bath tubs            language, in addition to English.
                                                ‘‘in order to ensure that the lifespan of               could imply a safe water level, even                     (Comment 14) Two commenters urged
                                                our inflatable tub would match that of                  though staff is aware that children have              CPSC to monitor ASTM’s work on
                                                the hard plastic tubs and folding tubs                  drowned in very little water. Staff                   including infant bath sling accessories
                                                . . . ., the thickness of the vinyl used                advises, and the Commission agrees,                   to the infant bath tub standard.
                                                would have to be increased to the point                 that the ASTM wording required in the                    (Response 14) CPSC staff has been an
                                                where the cost of manufacturing and                     user instruction, ‘‘Babies can drown in               active participant in the ASTM task
                                                subsequent retail price of the item                     as little as 1 inch of water. Use as little           group work regarding infant bath sling
                                                would be more than the market would                     water as possible to bathe your baby,’’               accessories sold with and used with
                                                bear.’’ The commenter estimated that                    accurately describes the risk associated              infant bath tubs. Staff will continue this
                                                this would increase the cost of the                     with any level of water. CPSC staff will              work. We encourage the infant bath
                                                product by 10 to 15 percent.                            continue to monitor this issue.                       sling task group to finalize
                                                   (Response 9) The commenter may                          (Comment 12) A commenter indicated                 recommended sling requirements so
                                                misunderstand some of the                               that icons for key safety messages were               that the ASTM subcommittee can
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                                                requirements of the proposed rule and                   clearer to consumers, but the                         discuss this progress and vote for
                                                the voluntary standard. Although                        commenter did not specifically                        inclusion of bath sling requirements in
                                                inflatable infant bath tubs are classified              recommend that CPSC require use of                    the voluntary standard for infant bath
                                                as durable infant or toddler products,                  icons and pictograms in the final rule                tubs. Once this work is complete, CPSC
                                                ASTM F2670 does not require the                         for infant bath tubs.                                 staff will assess whether any revised
                                                products to have a minimum expected                        (Response 12) The Commission                       voluntary standard adequately
                                                life. The standard contains requirements                acknowledges that icons and pictograms                addresses incident data on bath slings


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                                                15622             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                and make a recommendation to the                           (Response 17) Proposed 16 CFR                         (Comment 20) A commenter stated
                                                Commission. The Commission will                         1234.2(b)(6)(i)(C) states: ‘‘9.3 In addition          that, while they appreciated CPSC staff’s
                                                consider whether to incorporate such                    to the warnings, the instructional                    work on the proposed rule, they were
                                                revisions into an amendment to the                      literature shall emphasize and reinforce              concerned about staff’s ‘‘ability to
                                                mandatory bath tubs standard through                    the safe practices stated in the                      seemingly be able to arbitrarily change
                                                the revision process described in section               warnings.’’ The intent of the statement               language or standards without any
                                                3 of Public Law 112–28.                                 was to ensure that the instructional                  justification.’’ In addition the
                                                   (Comment 15) One commenter                           statements in section 9 of the voluntary              commenter stated: ‘‘[i]t is the role of the
                                                recommended that, based on the                          standard remain consistent with the                   Commission, not professional staff to
                                                incident data, CPSC restrict the scope of               warning statements in section 8. Current              dictate changes in policy.’’ (Emphasis in
                                                the rule to cover only infant bath tubs                 wording in section 9 of ASTM F2670–                   original).
                                                for infants under 24 months of age.                     17 meets this objective. Accordingly, for                (Response 20) The Commission does
                                                   (Response 15) The Commission is not                  the final rule, the Commission adopts                 not agree that staff ‘‘arbitrarily’’ changes
                                                including an age limit in the final rule                the wording in section 9 of ASTM                      language in a standard ‘‘without any
                                                for infant bath tubs. Section 104(f) of the             F2670–17, without modification.                       justification.’’ In fact, staff ensures that
                                                CPSIA defines ‘‘durable infant or                                                                             each package for proposed and final
                                                                                                        E. General and Legal
                                                toddler products’’ as ‘‘durable products                                                                      rules contains ample explanation and
                                                intended for use, or that may be                           (Comment 18) Two commenters                        thorough documentation of the
                                                reasonably expected to be used, by                      recommended delaying publication of                   appropriate engineering and/or
                                                children under the age of 5 years.’’                    the final rule until major warnings                   scientific analysis to support staff’s
                                                Although infant bath tubs are                           format and content revisions proposed                 recommendations. By voting to issue the
                                                considered durable infant or toddler                    in the NPR can be properly reviewed,                  NPR, the Commission expressed its
                                                products, no age requirement or age cut-                balloted through the ASTM process, and                policy decisions. Furthermore, at ASTM
                                                off for use of the product is included in               then implemented into F2670.                          meetings, CPSC staff is not speaking for
                                                the ASTM standard. Depending on the                        (Response 18) Since the NPR was                    the Commission, but is expressing staff’s
                                                manufacturer’s design, infant bath tubs                 published, ASTM’s subcommittee for                    views, based on staff’s expertise.
                                                can accommodate users from newborns                     infant bath tubs reviewed, balloted, and                 Moreover, since the proposed rule
                                                to preschoolers. Safety requirements                    published a new standard (F2670–17)                   was published, CPSC staff continued
                                                included in the ASTM standard, and                      with improved warning formatting and                  participating on the ASTM Ad Hoc TG
                                                incorporated into the final rule for bath               content revisions in alignment with the               on warning labels. The Ad Hoc TG
                                                tubs, benefit infants and toddlers across               NPR, except for the font size of certain              discussed labeling issues, including
                                                all intended ages of foreseeable users.                 warning statements. For the final rule,               formatting, and a best-practices
                                                   (Comment 16) One commenter stated                    the Commission incorporates by                        approach for ASTM juvenile products
                                                support for the ‘‘new wording as it is                  reference ASTM F2670–17, without                      standards warning labels moving
                                                clearer,’’ and stated that the ‘‘new                    modification.                                         forward. The latest version of the
                                                FALLING HAZARD is a good addition.’’                       (Comment 19) One commenter noted                   voluntary standard, ASTM F2670–17,
                                                The commenter suggested adding an                       that the NPR contains several errors                  incorporates the Ad Hoc TG’s
                                                additional warning to ‘‘NOT USE ON                      when referring to figures that show                   recommendations. For the final rule, the
                                                RAISED SURFACES, SUCH AS TABLES                         example warning labels. The                           Commission incorporates by reference
                                                OR WORKTOPS.’’                                          Commenter stated:                                     ASTM F2670–17, without modification.
                                                   (Response 16) One incident involved                     • Figure 1 is missing from the NPR.                   (Comment 21) A commenter stated
                                                a skull fracture sustained when a bath                  The NPR starts with Figure 2;                         that the text of the rule for infant bath
                                                tub fell from a kitchen counter. Based                     • A reference to Figure 3 is missing               tubs should be available for free and in
                                                on the incident data, staff advises that                in proposed section 1234.2(b)(4)(i)(F);               the public domain, rather than
                                                the fall warnings included in ASTM                         • A reference to Figure 3 in proposed              incorporating by reference an ASTM
                                                F2670–17 adequately and succinctly                      section 1234.2(b)(6)(i)(B)(3) is                      standard that is subject to copyright
                                                convey the message of where the infant                  inaccurate and should instead reference               restrictions. The commenter made
                                                bath tub can be used safely based on the                Figure 4; and                                         several arguments supporting this
                                                manufacturer’s intended use.                               • A reference to Figure 4 in proposed              contention, including:
                                                Specifically, section 8.5.2.2 of the                    section 1234.2(b)(6)(i)(B)(3) is                         • Citizens have the right ‘‘without
                                                voluntary standard states:                              inaccurate and should reference a                     limitation, to read, speak, and
                                                   Additional warning statements shall                  different example warning label similar               disseminate the laws that we are
                                                address the following:                                  to Figure 3.                                          required to obey, including laws that are
                                                   • Place tub only [insert                                (Response 19) The omission of Figure               critical to public safety and commerce’’;
                                                manufacturer’s intended location(s) for                 1 from the NPR was intentional. Figure                   • the right to freedom of speech is
                                                safe use (e.g., in adult tub, sink, or on               1 is referenced in paragraph 5.6 of                   ‘‘imperiled’’ if citizens cannot freely
                                                floor)].                                                ASTM F2670–13, which the                              communicate provisions of law with
                                                   • Never lift or carry baby in tub.                   Commission proposed to incorporate by                 each other;
                                                Staff will continue to monitor incidents                reference without modification. The                      • equal protection and due process
                                                for use of bath tubs on elevated surfaces.              NPR only discussed sections of the                    are ‘‘jeopardized’’ if only citizens that
                                                   (Comment 17) One commenter stated:                   proposed rule that differed from ASTM                 can afford to purchase the law have
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                                                ‘‘the requirement in 16 CFR                             F2670–13. Reusing Figure 1 in the NPR                 access;
                                                1234.2(b)(6)(i)(C) previously proposed                  would have created two ‘‘Figure 1’’                      • the cost of obtaining standards
                                                by CPSC was discussed by the task                       designations in the final rule.                       incorporated by reference into current
                                                group; it was considered too nebulous,                  Otherwise, we agree with the comment                  CPSC regulations would be in the
                                                subjective and virtually unenforceable,                 and references to figures are corrected in            hundreds of dollars to purchase, and
                                                and therefore was recommended to be                     the final rule by incorporation of ASTM               would require consultation of other
                                                deleted.’’                                              F2670–17 without modification.                        agencies regulations;


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        15623

                                                   • public access to the law is crucial                summary to the Commission’s Office of                 ASTM, that profits from the sale of what
                                                to CPSC’s mission: ‘‘rationing access to                the Secretary, pursuant to 16 CFR                     essentially becomes the law. The
                                                the law hurts trade, it hurts public                    1031.11(f) and 1012. Once rulemaking                  commenter stated that many
                                                safety, and it makes it much more                       commences, staff also places meeting                  government agencies have joined ASTM
                                                difficult for the CPSC to carry out its                 summaries on the rulemaking docket.                   as organizational members, and that 44
                                                congressionally-mandated mission.’’;                    As required, the Commission’s section                 CPSC employees are members of ASTM.
                                                and                                                     104 rulemakings follow notice and                     The commenter also noted that the
                                                   • prohibiting the wide dissemination                 comment procedures of the                             ASTM standard for infant bath tubs is
                                                of the mandatory rules for durable                      Administrative Procedure Act (APA)                    five pages long and that when CPSC’s
                                                infant standards makes the public less                  with an NPR and a final rule that                     proposed edits to the standard are
                                                safe.                                                   explain the substance of the proposed                 incorporated, the standard is six to
                                                   The commenter argued that, based on                  and final requirements.                               seven pages long. The commenter
                                                fundamental principles in the                              We disagree that the public is less safe           asserted that based on this: ‘‘the
                                                Constitution and judicial opinions, as                  because final rules under section 104 of              government is clearly an author of this
                                                reviewed by the commenter, it is                        the CPSIA are based on a voluntary                    work.’’
                                                unlawful and unreasonable for the                       standard. Voluntary standards generally                  (Response 23) CPSC staff did not
                                                Commission to make voluntary                            can be updated more frequently than a                 author the voluntary standard on infant
                                                standards mandatory without providing                   traditionally enacted mandatory                       bath tubs. ASTM began working on the
                                                free access to the law.                                 standard to respond to changing                       voluntary standard for infant bath tubs
                                                   (Response 21) The infant bath tub                    products and emerging hazards. Durable                in 2006, well before the congressional
                                                standard is authorized by Congress                      infant and toddler products, in                       mandate to issue mandatory standards
                                                under section 104 of the CPSIA. This                    particular, are subject to frequent                   based on the voluntary standards for
                                                CPSIA provision directs the                             product changes, including design                     durable infant and toddler products.
                                                Commission to issue standards for                       modifications. Section 104 of the CPSIA               CPSC staff contributed, as it always has,
                                                durable infant or toddler products that                 also includes a mechanism allowing the                to the development of the voluntary
                                                are ‘‘substantially the same as,’’ or more              CPSC to update the mandatory standard                 standard to address incident data, along
                                                stringent than, applicable voluntary                    when voluntary standard modifications                 with all stakeholders who participate on
                                                standards. Thus, unless the Commission                  occur.                                                the relevant subcommittee. Through the
                                                determines that more stringent                             (Comment 22) A commenter objected                  rulemaking process, the Commission
                                                requirements are needed, the                            to the process for promulgating rules                 assesses each voluntary standard for its
                                                Commission’s rule must be nearly the                    related to durable infant and toddler                 ability to adequately address injuries
                                                same as the voluntary standard. ASTM’s                  products under section 104 of the                     found in CPSC’s incident data. If the
                                                voluntary standards are protected by                    CPSIA. More specifically, the                         voluntary standard should be more
                                                copyright, which the Commission (and                    commenter objected to the lack of                     stringent, the Commission proposes
                                                the federal government generally) must                  availability and accessibility of the                 modifications for the mandatory rule. In
                                                observe. The United States may be held                  voluntary standard that the Commission                the case of infant bath tubs, based on
                                                liable for copyright infringement. 28                   proposes to incorporate by reference.                 modifications made in the voluntary
                                                U.S.C. 1498. The Office of the Federal                  The commenter stated that although                    standard since issuance of the NPR, the
                                                Register (OFR) has established                          ASTM made a copy of the voluntary                     Commission incorporates by reference
                                                procedures for incorporation by                         standard that CPSC proposes to                        the most recent voluntary standard,
                                                reference that seek to balance the                      incorporate by reference into the rule                ASTM F2670–17, as the final rule for
                                                interests of copyright protection and                   available for viewing on ASTM’s Web                   infant bath tubs, without modification.
                                                public accessibility of material. 1 CFR                 site:                                                    (Comment 24) A commenter argued
                                                part 51. The CPSC complies with these                      • A redline of CPSC’s modifications                that CPSC’s Voluntary Standards
                                                requirements whenever incorporating                     to the voluntary standard was not made                Coordinator, by serving on the board of
                                                material by reference. In addition, when                available;                                            ANSI, has been placed in the position
                                                the Commission proposes a section 104                      • the standard was ‘‘read only’’;                  of ‘‘serving two masters,’’ as the person
                                                rule, ASTM’s copyrighted voluntary                         • the standard was displayed with a                has a fiduciary responsibility to ANSI,
                                                standards are available for free during                 legal warning restricting use;                        as well as to his employer, the U.S.
                                                the comment period.                                        • the standard did not allow for copy              government. The commenter criticized
                                                   The Commission’s process for                         and paste of the text in the standard;                the CPSC for not ‘‘clearly delineat[ing]
                                                developing section 104 rules is open                    and                                                   the roles government employees will
                                                and transparent. CPSC staff works with                     • the document is difficult for people             take when assuming fiduciary
                                                stakeholders through the ASTM process,                  with visual impairments to use.                       responsibilities for private
                                                specifically the ASTM subcommittee                         (Response 22) The Freedom of                       organizations.’’ The commenter stated
                                                responsible for each product type, to                   Information Act requires that the text of             that although CPSC’s Voluntary
                                                evaluate each voluntary standard and its                the material being incorporated by                    Standards Coordinator served on the
                                                ability to address the injuries found in                reference be ‘‘reasonably available.’’ 5              board of ANSI, the CPSC had no
                                                CPSC’s incident data. The ASTM                          U.S.C. 552(a)(1)(E); 1 CFR part 51. As set            memorandum of understanding (MOU)
                                                subcommittee includes representatives                   forth in response to comment 21, the                  with ANSI regarding this relationship;
                                                from government, manufacturers,                         Commission complies with this                         and instead, CPSC asserted its reliance
                                                retailers, trade organizations,                         requirement. Nothing in the law                       on the Commission’s regulation at 16
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                                                laboratories, and consumer advocacy                     requires the specific enhancements to                 CFR part 1031. The commenter stated
                                                groups, as well as consultants and                      text of the proposed mandatory standard               that the Office of Government Ethics
                                                members of the public. CPSC staff that                  articulated by the commenter.                         (OGE) has provided the guidance on
                                                participates in ASTM meetings are                          (Comment 23) A commenter                           government employees serving on the
                                                required to place such meetings on the                  suggested that a conflict of interest                 boards of external nonprofits, and the
                                                Commission’s public calendar, draft a                   occurs when a government entity relies                OGE recommends an MOU among the
                                                meeting summary, and provide such                       on a voluntary standards body, such as                agency, employee and the nonprofit


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                                                15624             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                organization to avoid violation of 18                   promote the safe use of infant bath                   B. Amendment to 16 CFR Part 1112 to
                                                U.S.C. 208(a).                                          tubs.’’ As stated in section II.A. of this            Include NOR for Infant Bath Tubs
                                                  (Response 24) CPSC does not rely on                   preamble, ASTM F2670–17 defines an                    Standard
                                                a unique MOU among the agency,                          ‘‘infant bath tub’’ as a ‘‘tub, enclosure,              The final rule amends part 1112 to
                                                employee, and each voluntary standards                  or other similar product intended to                  add a new § 1112.15(b)(41) that lists 16
                                                organization. Because CPSC employees,                   hold water and be placed into an adult                CFR part 1234, Safety Consumer Safety
                                                based on job description, participate in                bath tub, sink, or on top of other                    Specification for Infant Bath Tubs, as a
                                                different capacities with different                     surfaces to provide support or                        children’s product safety rule for which
                                                organizations, the Commission has                       containment, or both, for an infant in a              the Commission has issued an NOR.
                                                regulations (16 CFR part 1031) setting                  reclining, sitting, or standing position              Section XIII of the preamble provides
                                                forth best practices and ethical                        during bathing by a caregiver.’’ This                 additional background information
                                                responsibilities of employees involved                  description includes ‘‘bucket style’’ tubs            regarding certification of infant bath
                                                in voluntary standards activities.                      that support a child sitting upright, tubs            tubs and issuance of an NOR.
                                                                                                        with an inclined seat for infants too
                                                VI. Incorporation by Reference                                                                                VIII. Effective Date
                                                                                                        young to sit unsupported, inflatable
                                                   Section 1234.2(a) of the final rule                  tubs, folding tubs, and tubs with more                   The APA generally requires that the
                                                provides that infant bath tubs must                     elaborate designs including handheld                  effective date of a rule be at least 30
                                                comply with ASTM F2670–17. The OFR                      shower attachments and even whirlpool                 days after publication of the final rule.
                                                has regulations concerning                              settings. ASTM F2670–17 excludes from                 5 U.S.C. 553(d). CPSC generally
                                                incorporation by reference. 1 CFR part                  its scope ‘‘products commonly known                   considers 6 months to be sufficient time
                                                51. These regulations require that, for a               as bath slings, typically made of fabric              for suppliers of durable infant and
                                                final rule, agencies must discuss in the                or mesh.’’                                            toddler products to come into
                                                preamble to the rule the way in which                      Terminology. Section 3 of ASTM                     compliance with a new standard under
                                                materials that the agency incorporates                  F2670–17 provides definitions of terms                section 104 of the CPSIA, and the
                                                by reference are reasonably available to                specific to the infant bath tub standard.             Commission proposed a 6-month
                                                interested persons, and how interested                                                                        effective date in the NPR for infant bath
                                                                                                           General Requirements. Section 5 of
                                                parties can obtain the materials.                                                                             tubs. We received no comments on the
                                                                                                        ASTM F2670–17 sets forth general
                                                Additionally, the preamble to the rule                                                                        proposed effective date. Accordingly,
                                                                                                        requirements for infant bath tubs,
                                                must summarize the material. 1 CFR                                                                            the final rule will have a 6-month
                                                                                                        including:
                                                51.5(b).                                                                                                      effective date. We note that two recent
                                                   In accordance with the OFR’s                            • Sharp Edges or Points (referencing
                                                                                                                                                              versions of the voluntary standard,
                                                requirements, the discussion in section                 16 CFR 1500.48 and 1500.49);
                                                                                                                                                              ASTM F2670–16 and ASTM F2670–16a,
                                                VII of this preamble summarizes the                        • Small Parts (referencing 16 CFR                  both contain a majority of changes that
                                                provisions of ASTM F2670–17.                            1501);                                                align with the NPR, so manufacturers
                                                Interested persons may purchase a copy                     • Lead in Paint and Surface Coatings               that comply with the voluntary standard
                                                of ASTM F2670–17 from ASTM, either                      (referencing 16 CFR 1303);                            will have had a year to prepare
                                                through ASTM’s Web site, or by mail at                     • Resistance to Collapse;                          production to the new federal
                                                the address provided in the rule. A copy                   • Scissoring, Shearing, and Pinching;              regulation.
                                                of the standard may also be inspected at                   • Openings;
                                                the CPSC’s Office of the Secretary, U.S.                                                                      IX. Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                Consumer Product Safety Commission,                        • Protective Components;
                                                                                                                                                              A. Introduction
                                                or at NARA, as discussed above. Note                       • Requirements for Toys
                                                                                                        (incorporating ASTM F963); and                           The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),
                                                that the Commission and ASTM                                                                                  5 U.S.C. 601–612, requires that agencies
                                                arranged for commenters to have ‘‘read                     • Labeling.
                                                                                                                                                              review a proposed rule and a final rule
                                                only’’ access to ASTM F2670–13 during                      Performance Requirements and Test                  for the rule’s potential economic impact
                                                the NPR’s comment period.                               Methods. Section 6 of ASTM F2670–17                   on small entities, including small
                                                VII. Description of the Final Rule                      contains performance requirements for                 businesses. Section 604 of the RFA
                                                                                                        restraint systems, static load, and                   generally requires that agencies prepare
                                                A. Final Safety Standard for Infant Bath                suction cups. Section 7 of the standard               a final regulatory flexibility analysis
                                                Tubs                                                    sets forth test methods for the                       (FRFA) when promulgating final rules,
                                                  For the final rule for infant bath tubs,              performance requirements set forth in                 unless the head of the agency certifies
                                                the Commission will incorporate by                      sections 5 and 6 of the standard.                     that the rule will not have a significant
                                                reference ASTM F2670–17, without                           Marking and Labeling. Section 8 of                 economic impact on a substantial
                                                modification. ASTM F2670–17 contains                    ASTM F2670–17 contains requirements                   number of small entities. As discussed
                                                both general and product-specific                       for marking products, including                       in this analysis, adopting ASTM F2670–
                                                requirements to address the hazards                     warnings that must be applied to the                  17 without modification would not be
                                                associated with infant bath tubs. ASTM                  product and the product packaging.                    expected to have a significant impact on
                                                F2670–17 includes the following key                     Section 8 sets forth the substance,                   a substantial number of small entities.
                                                provisions: Scope, Terminology,                         format, and prominence requirements                      For the final rule, the Commission is
                                                General Requirements, Performance                       for warning information.                              incorporating by reference the voluntary
                                                Requirements, Test Methods, Marking                        Instructional Literature. Section 9 of             standard for infant bath tubs, ASTM
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                                                and Labeling, and Instructional                         ASTM F2670–17 requires that                           F2670–17, without modification. As set
                                                Literature.                                             instructions provided with infant bath                forth in section IX.B below, six of the 10
                                                  Scope. Section 1 of ASTM F2670–17                     tubs be easy to read and understand.                  small manufacturers and four of the five
                                                provides the scope of products covered                  Additionally, the section contains                    small importers are already believed to
                                                by the standard, which: ‘‘establishes                   requirements for instructional literature             be in compliance with the requirements
                                                performance requirements, test                          contents and format, as well as                       of the voluntary standard. Because the
                                                methods, and labeling requirements to                   prominence of certain language.                       products are not complex, modifications


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         15625

                                                required to bring the remaining                         likely to be small for most producers                 testing and certification requirements,
                                                products into compliance should be                      who do not comply with ASTM F2607–                    and consequently, they will experience
                                                minor. All firms will need to make                      16.                                                   the associated costs, if their supplying
                                                changes to their product’s warning                         Under section 14 of the CPSA, infant               foreign firm(s) does not perform third
                                                labels and use different equipment in                   bath tubs are also subject to third party             party testing. However, based on firms’
                                                the static load test. CPSC expects the                  testing and certification. Once the new               revenues and on the number of samples
                                                cost of these modifications to be low.                  requirements become effective, all                    that would be required, it is unlikely
                                                Firms will incur additional costs                       manufacturers will be subject to the                  that there will be a significant economic
                                                associated with third party testing.                    additional costs associated with the                  impact due to the testing requirements.
                                                However, CPSC does not expect the                       third party testing and certification
                                                                                                                                                                 As mentioned above, one small
                                                impact of third party testing to be                     requirements under the testing rule,
                                                                                                                                                              domestic firm has an unknown supply
                                                economically significant for most firms.                Testing and Labeling Pertaining to
                                                                                                                                                              source. However, the firm has a diverse
                                                Accordingly, the Commission certifies                   Product Certification (16 CFR part
                                                                                                                                                              product line and claims compliance
                                                that the final rule for infant bath tubs                1107). Third party testing will include
                                                                                                                                                              with various standards for several of its
                                                will not have a significant economic                    physical and mechanical test
                                                                                                                                                              other infant products. It is possible that
                                                impact on a substantial number of small                 requirements specified in the infant
                                                                                                                                                              the firm’s infant bath tub is compliant
                                                entities.                                               bath tub final rule; lead and phthalates
                                                                                                        testing is already required. Third party              with the current bath tub standard and
                                                B. Impact on Small Businesses                           testing costs are in addition to the direct           the firm would only need to modify
                                                   Under U.S. Small Business                            costs of meeting the infant bath tub                  existing warning labels. In any case, this
                                                Administration (SBA) guidelines, a                      standard.                                             firm should not experience large
                                                manufacturer of infant bath tubs is small                  Based on testing costs for similar                 impacts because infant bath tubs are
                                                if it has 500 or fewer employees, and                   juvenile products, staff estimates that               only one of many products it supplies.
                                                importers and wholesalers are                           testing to the ASTM voluntary standard                The labeling requirements also apply to
                                                considered small if they have 100 or                    could cost approximately $500–$600                    importers. However, as described above,
                                                fewer employees. Based on these                         per model sample. On average, each                    staff believes firms can easily meet this
                                                guidelines, 16 of the 22 domestic firms                 small domestic manufacturer supplies                  requirement.
                                                known to be supplying infant bath tubs                  three different models of infant bath                 X. Environmental Considerations
                                                to the U.S. market are small firms—10                   tubs to the U.S. market annually.
                                                manufacturers, five importers, and one                  Therefore, if third party testing were                   The Commission’s regulations address
                                                firm with an unknown supply source.                     conducted every year on a single sample               whether the agency is required to
                                                                                                        for each model, third party testing costs             prepare an environmental assessment or
                                                1. Small Domestic Manufacturers
                                                                                                        for each manufacturer would be about                  an environmental impact statement.
                                                   The impact of the final rule on small                $1,500–1,800 annually. Based on a                     Under these regulations, a rule that has
                                                manufacturers will differ, based on                     review of firms’ revenues and products,               ‘‘little or no potential for affecting the
                                                whether manufacturers’ infant bath tubs                 the impact of third party testing to                  human environment,’’ is categorically
                                                are already compliant with F2670–16.                    ASTM F2670–17 would not exceed one                    excluded from this requirement. 16 CFR
                                                Six domestic manufacturers are in                       percent of revenues. Thus, it seems                   1021.5(c)(1). The final rule falls within
                                                compliance with ASTM F2670–16 and                       unlikely that the impacts of the rule will            the categorical exclusion.
                                                are likely to continue to comply with                   be economically significant for most
                                                the new voluntary standard approved in                  small producers.                                      XI. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                Janury 2017, ASTM F2670–17. Firms in
                                                compliance with the voluntary standard                  2. Small Domestic Importers                             The final rule for infant bath tubs
                                                will not need to make physical                             Most importers will not experience                 contains information collection
                                                modifications to their products, but still              significant impacts as a result of the                requirements that are subject to public
                                                will need to make some modifications to                 final rule. The Commission believes that              comment and review by the Office of
                                                the warning labels on their products.                   four of the five small importers are                  Management and Budget (OMB) under
                                                However, the costs of modifying an                      compliant with the ASTM F2670–16                      the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                existing label are usually small.                       voluntary standard, and therefore only                (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). The preamble to
                                                   Four domestic manufacturers appear                   would need to assure that their                       the proposed rule (80 FR at 48776–77)
                                                to be noncompliant with ASTM F2607–                     suppliers make the label modifications                discussed the information collection
                                                16 and will need to modify their                        to comply with the final rule.                        burden of the proposed rule and
                                                products in order to meet ASTM F2607–                   Complying with the final rule could be                specifically requested comments on the
                                                17. The Commission expects product                      more difficult for the remaining                      accuracy of our estimates. OMB has
                                                modifications to be minor because the                   importer because changes beyond                       assigned control number 3041–0171 to
                                                products are not complex; the products                  simple modifications to the warning                   this information collection. We did not
                                                are generally composed of one or two                    label are probably necessary. The                     receive any comment regarding the
                                                pieces of hard or soft plastic molded                   remaining importer, who is likely not in              information collection burden of the
                                                together. Modifications to meet the                     compliance with the voluntary                         proposal. However, the final rule makes
                                                standard primarily involve adjusting the                standard, might need to find an                       modifications regarding the information
                                                size of grooves or openings on the side                 alternate source of infant bath tubs if               collection burden because the number
                                                of the product to avoid finger                          their existing suppliers do not come into             of estimated manufacturers subject to
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                                                entrapment. All firms will need to                      compliance with the requirements of the               the information collection burden is
                                                modify their warning labels to meet the                 final rule. Alternatively, this firm may              now estimated at 25 manufacturers
                                                mandatory standard. Staff believes 6                    discontinue importing infant bath tubs                rather than the 26 manufacturers
                                                months is sufficient time to make the                   altogether or perhaps substitute another              initially estimated in the proposed rule.
                                                necessary changes and the costs                         product.                                                Accordingly, the estimated burden of
                                                associated with doing so are low.                          As is the case with manufacturers, all             this collection of information is
                                                Therefore, the impact of the final rule is              importers will be subject to third party              modified as follows:


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                                                15626                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                                                                TABLE 1—ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN
                                                                                                                                              Number of       Frequency of      Total annual        Hours per   Total burden
                                                                                16 CFR Section                                               respondents       responses         responses          response       hours

                                                1234 .....................................................................................       25                  3               75                1            75



                                                   Our estimate is based on the                                            26(c) of the CPSA also provides that                   Commission is now amending part 1112
                                                following:                                                                 states or political subdivisions of states             to include the standard for infant bath
                                                   Section 8.1 of ASTM F2670–17                                            may apply to the Commission for an                     tubs in the list of other children’s
                                                requires that all infant bath tubs and                                     exemption from this preemption under                   product safety rules for which the CPSC
                                                their retail packaging be permanently                                      certain circumstances. Section 104(b) of               has issued NORs.
                                                marked or labeled as follows: The                                          the CPSIA refers to the rules to be                       Laboratories applying for acceptance
                                                manufacturer, distributor, or seller                                       issued under that section as ‘‘consumer                as a CPSC-accepted third-party
                                                name, place of business (city, state,                                      product safety rules.’’ Therefore, the                 conformity assessment body to test to
                                                mailing address, including zip code),                                      preemption provision of section 26(a) of               the new standard for infant bath tubs
                                                and telephone number; and a code mark                                      the CPSA applies to this final rule                    would be required to meet the third-
                                                or other means that identifies the date                                    issued under section 104.                              party conformity assessment body
                                                (month and year as a minimum) of                                                                                                  accreditation requirements in 16 CFR
                                                manufacture.                                                               XIII. Amendment to 16 CFR Part 1112                    part 1112, Requirements Pertaining to
                                                   CPSC is aware of 25 firms that supply                                   To Include a Notice of Requirement for                 Third-Party Conformity Assessment
                                                infant bath tubs in the U.S. market. For                                   the Infant Bath Tub Standard                           Bodies. When a laboratory meets the
                                                PRA purposes, we assume that all 25                                           Section 14(a) of the CPSA imposes the               requirements as a CPSC-accepted third-
                                                firms use labels on their products and                                     requirement that products subject to a                 party conformity assessment body, the
                                                on their packaging already. All firms                                      consumer product safety rule under the                 laboratory can apply to the CPSC to
                                                will need to make some modifications to                                    CPSA, or to a similar rule, ban,                       have 16 CFR part 1234, Safety Standard
                                                their existing labels. We estimate that                                    standard, or regulation under any other                for Infant Bath Tubs, included in its
                                                the time required to make these                                            Act enforced by the Commission, must                   scope of accreditation of CPSC safety
                                                modifications is about 1 hour per                                          be certified as complying with all                     rules listed for the laboratory on the
                                                model. Each of the 25 firms supplies an                                    applicable CPSC-enforced requirements.                 CPSC Web site at: www.cpsc.gov/
                                                average of three different models of                                       15 U.S.C. 2063(a). Section 14(a)(2) of the             labsearch.
                                                infant bath tubs. Therefore, we estimate                                   CPSA requires that certification of                       As required by the RFA, staff
                                                the burden hours associated with labels                                    children’s products subject to a                       conducted a FRFA when the
                                                to be 75 hours annually (1 hour × 25                                       children’s product safety rule be based                Commission issued the part 1112 rule
                                                firms × 3 models per firm = 75 hours                                       on testing conducted by a CPSC-                        (78 FR 15836, 15855–58). Briefly, the
                                                annually).                                                                 accepted, third party conformity                       FRFA concluded that the accreditation
                                                   We estimate the hourly compensation                                     assessment body. Section 14(a)(3) of the               requirements would not have a
                                                for the time required to create and                                        CPSA requires the Commission to                        significant adverse impact on a
                                                update labels is $33.30 (U.S. Bureau of                                    publish an NOR for the accreditation of                substantial number of small test
                                                Labor Statistics, ‘‘Employer Costs for                                     third party conformity assessment                      laboratories because no requirements
                                                Employee Compensation,’’ September                                         bodies (or laboratories) to assess                     were imposed on test laboratories that
                                                2016, Table 9, total compensation for all                                  conformity with a children’s product                   did not intend to provide third-party
                                                sales and office workers in goods-                                         safety rule to which a children’s product              testing services. The only test
                                                producing private industries: http://                                      is subject. The Safety Standard for                    laboratories that were expected to
                                                www.bls.gov/ncs/). Therefore, we                                           Infant Bath Tubs, to be codified at 16                 provide such services were those that
                                                estimate the annual cost to industry                                       CFR part 1234, is a children’s product                 anticipated receiving sufficient revenue
                                                associated with the labeling                                               safety rule that requires the issuance of              from the mandated testing to justify
                                                requirements in the final rule to be                                       an NOR.                                                accepting the requirements as a business
                                                approximately $2,498 ($33.30 per hour                                         The Commission published a final                    decision. Moreover, a test laboratory
                                                × 75 hours = $2,497.5). This collection                                    rule, Requirements Pertaining to Third-                would only choose to provide such
                                                of information does not require                                            Party Conformity Assessment Bodies, 78                 services if it anticipated receiving
                                                operating, maintenance, or capital costs.                                  FR 15836 (March 12, 2013), which is                    revenues sufficient to cover the costs of
                                                   In compliance with the Paperwork                                        codified at 16 CFR part 1112 (referred to              the requirements.
                                                Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.                                           here as part 1112). Part 1112 became                      Based on similar reasoning, amending
                                                3507(d)), we have submitted the                                            effective on June 10, 2013 and                         16 CFR part 1112 to include the NOR for
                                                information collection requirements of                                     establishes requirements for                           the infant bath tubs standard will not
                                                this final rule to the OMB.                                                accreditation of third-party conformity                have a significant adverse impact on
                                                                                                                           assessment bodies (or laboratories) to                 small test laboratories. Moreover, based
                                                XII. Preemption                                                            test for conformance with a children’s                 upon the number of test laboratories in
                                                  Section 26(a) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C.                                     product safety rule in accordance with                 the United States that have applied for
                                                2075(a), provides that when a consumer                                     section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA. Part 1112                CPSC acceptance of accreditation to test
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                                                product safety standard is in effect and                                   also codifies a list of all of the NORs                for conformance to other mandatory
                                                applies to a product, no state or political                                that the CPSC had published at the time                juvenile product standards, we expect
                                                subdivision of a state may either                                          part 1112 was issued. All NORs issued                  that only a few test laboratories will
                                                establish or continue in effect a                                          after the Commission published part                    seek CPSC acceptance of their
                                                requirement dealing with the same risk                                     1112, such as the standard for infant                  accreditation to test for conformance
                                                of injury unless the state requirement is                                  bath tubs, require the Commission to                   with the infant bath tub standard. Most
                                                identical to the federal standard. Section                                 amend part 1112. Accordingly, the                      of these test laboratories will have


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         15627

                                                already been accredited to test for                     § 1234.2    Requirements for infant bath              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                conformity to other mandatory juvenile                  tubs.
                                                                                                           Each infant bath tub must comply                   I. Background
                                                product standards, and the only costs to
                                                them would be the cost of adding the                    with all applicable provisions of ASTM                   Section 801(m) of the Federal Food,
                                                infant bath tubs standard to their scope                F2670–17, Standard Consumer Safety                    Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act)
                                                of accreditation. For these reasons, the                Specification for Infant Bath Tubs,                   (21 U.S.C. 381(m)) requires that FDA
                                                Commission certifies that the NOR                       approved on January 1, 2017. The                      establish regulations requiring that
                                                amending 16 CFR part 1112 to include                    Director of the Federal Register                      those persons importing articles of food
                                                the infant bath tubs standard will not                  approves this incorporation by reference              or offering articles of food for import
                                                have a significant impact on a                          in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and                into the United States submit certain
                                                substantial number of small entities.                   1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy                  information about imported foods before
                                                                                                        from ASTM International, 100 Bar                      the products’ arrival in the United
                                                List of Subjects                                        Harbor Drive, P.O. Box 0700, West                     States. We have established the
                                                16 CFR Part 1112                                        Conshohocken, PA 19428; http://                       regulations at title 21, Code of Federal
                                                                                                        www.astm.org/. You may inspect a copy                 Regulations (CFR) part 1, subpart I (21
                                                  Administrative practice and                           at the Office of the Secretary, U.S.                  CFR 1.276 to 1.285). Section 801(m) of
                                                procedure, Audit, Consumer protection,                  Consumer Product Safety Commission,                   the FD&C Act also provides that an
                                                Incorporation by reference, Reporting                   Room 820, 4330 East West Highway,                     article of food imported or offered for
                                                and recordkeeping requirements, Third-                  Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone 301–                    import is subject to refusal of admission
                                                party conformity assessment body.                       504–7923, or at the National Archives                 into the United States if adequate prior
                                                16 CFR Part 1234                                        and Records Administration (NARA).                    notice has not been provided to FDA.
                                                                                                        For information on the availability of                Our regulations in 21 CFR part 1,
                                                  Consumer protection, Imports,                         this material at NARA, call 202–741–                  subpart I, include information on when
                                                Incorporation by reference, Infants and                 6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/              to submit prior notice, how to submit
                                                children, Labeling, Law enforcement,                    federal_register/code_of_                             prior notice, and what information is
                                                bath tub, and Toys.                                     federalregulations/ibr_locations.html.                required in a prior notice.
                                                  For the reasons discussed in the                        Dated: March 27, 2017.                              II. Description of the Technical
                                                preamble, the Commission amends Title                   Todd A. Stevenson,                                    Amendments
                                                16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as                Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
                                                follows:                                                                                                         We are making technical amendments
                                                                                                        Commission.                                           in our prior notice regulations in part 1,
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2017–06270 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am]           subpart I (§§ 1.276 to 1.285), to:
                                                PART 1112—REQUIREMENTS
                                                PERTAINING TO THIRD PARTY                               BILLING CODE 6355–01–P                                   • Reflect the change in an electronic
                                                CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODIES                                                                                  data interchange system and its
                                                                                                                                                              expanded capabilities;
                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 1112               DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                 • correct paragraph number
                                                continues to read as follows:                           HUMAN SERVICES                                        designations in certain introductory text
                                                                                                                                                              paragraphs; and
                                                  Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2063; Pub. L. 110–               Food and Drug Administration                             • revise the name of an FDA office
                                                314, section 3, 122 Stat. 3016, 3017 (2008).
                                                                                                                                                              receiving certain information.
                                                ■ 2. Amend § 1112.15 by adding                          21 CFR Part 1                                            The technical amendments are
                                                paragraph (b)(41) to read as follows:                                                                         ministerial or editorial in nature and are
                                                                                                        [Docket No. FDA–2017–N–0011]
                                                                                                                                                              not intended to modify any substantive
                                                § 1112.15 When can a third party                                                                              requirements.
                                                                                                        Requirements To Submit Prior Notice
                                                conformity assessment body apply for
                                                CPSC acceptance for a particular CPSC rule              of Imported Food; Technical                           A. Revising an Electronic Data
                                                and/or test method?                                     Amendments                                            Interchange System and Recognizing Its
                                                *     *    *     *    *                                 AGENCY:    Food and Drug Administration,              Expanded Capabilities
                                                  (b) * * *                                             HHS.                                                     Our current regulations, at §§ 1.279,
                                                  (41) 16 CFR part 1234, Safety                               Final rule; technical
                                                                                                        ACTION:                                               1.280, 1.281, and 1.282, refer to the
                                                Standard for Infant Bath Tubs.                          amendments.                                           ‘‘Automated Broker Interface/
                                                                                                                                                              Automated Commercial System (ABI/
                                                *     *    *     *    *                                 SUMMARY:   The Food and Drug                          ACS)’’ or ‘‘Automated Broker Interface
                                                ■   3. Add part 1234 to read as follows:                Administration (FDA or we) is                         of the Automated Commercial System
                                                                                                        amending the prior notice of imported                 (ABI/ACS).’’ We are amending these
                                                PART 1234—SAFETY STANDARD FOR                           food regulations to reflect a change in               regulations to reflect the change of the
                                                INFANT BATH TUBS                                        the electronic data interchange system                electronic data interchange system from
                                                                                                        and its expanded capabilities, to correct             ‘‘Automated Broker Interface/
                                                Sec.
                                                1234.1     Scope.                                       inaccurate number designations in                     Automated Commercial System (ABI/
                                                1234.2     Requirements for infant bath tubs.           section headings, and to reflect a change             ACS)’’ or ‘‘Automated Broker Interface
                                                                                                        in an office’s name. This action is                   of the Automated Commercial System
                                                  Authority: The Consumer Product Safety
                                                                                                        ministerial or editorial in nature.                   (ABI/ACS)’’ to ‘‘Automated Broker
                                                Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–314,
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                                                104, 122 Stat. 3016 (August 14, 2008); Pub.             DATES: This rule is effective March 30,               Interface/Automated Commercial
                                                L. 112–28, 125 Stat. 273 (August 12, 2011).             2017.                                                 Environment/International Trade Data
                                                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      System (ABI/ACE/ITDS).’’ In the
                                                § 1234.1    Scope.                                      Jennifer Thomas, Center for Food Safety               Federal Register of May 16, 2016 (81 FR
                                                  This part establishes a consumer                      and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug                  30320), the Department of Homeland
                                                product safety standard for infant bath                 Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                      Security’s U.S. Customs and Border
                                                tubs.                                                   College Park, MD 20740, 240–402–2094.                 Protection (CBP) issued a notice


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Document Created: 2017-03-30 01:35:24
Document Modified: 2017-03-30 01:35:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis rule will become effective October 2, 2017. The incorporation by reference of the publication listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of October 2, 2017.
ContactKeysha Walker, Compliance Officer, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone: 301-504-6820; email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 15615 
CFR Citation16 CFR 1112
16 CFR 1234
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Audit; Consumer Protection; Incorporation by Reference; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Third-Party Conformity Assessment Body; Imports; Infants and Children; Labeling; Law Enforcement; Bath Tub and Toys

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