PRODUCT SAFETY LETTER View the entire issue in PDF format. (Print-only subscribers must CLICK HERE to log in.)

CPSC STAFF EYES JUNE TO SEND ATV WORK TO COMMISSION CPSC staffers are targeting June 30 to complete much work related to a 2006 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on all terrain vehicles (ATVs)

CPSC CIGARETTE IGNITION TESTS SET FOR AUTUMN CPSC staffers are slating fall 2008 to conduct cigarette-ignition tests related to work on both upholstered furniture and mattresses.

NHTSA LAUNCHES RECALL ALERT PROGRAM Recalls of child seats and tires would prompt emails and instant messages sent to registered consumers under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) effort begun March 24.

EPA CORRECTS VOCs RULE The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) March 24 issued a direct final rule related to the volatile organic compound (VOC) emission standards for aerosol coatings.

CPSC EYES STANDARDS FOR DUEL-SENSOR SMOKE ALARMS CPSC is seeking comment by April 1 on its draft recommendation to UL seeking performance requirements for multiple-sensor smoke alarms.

EU MIGHT MOVE UP MERCURY IMPORT BAN Imports of products containing mercury into the EU would be banned by December 2010 under a proposal passed March 26 by the EU parliament’s Environment Committee.

EU SEEK RIP CIGARETTE STANDARDS An EU decision in the March 26 Official Journal of the European Union seeks standards for reduced-ignition propensity cigarettes.

CANADA COULD GET CHILD INJURY PREVENTION STRATEGY A Canadian national child injury prevention strategy could be one result of recommendations made March 25 to Health Canada.

FIVE FIRMS MAKE PRODUCT SAFETY PACTS WITH NYC Best Buy, JCPenney, Mattel, Pier 1 and Target in December will report to the New York City comptroller on pledges to review their product safety practices, especially related to imported products.

ILLINOIS PIRG SEEKS PHTHALATES LAW Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) March 19 urged legislation to address phthalates in toys.

MAINE BANS NOVELTY LIGHTERS Maine March 24 became the first state to ban novelty lighters.

CPSC AMENDS CLOTHING TEXTILE RULES A March 25 CPSC final rule updates 16 CFR1610 on clothing textile flammability to reflect current practices.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on rockers, ring toss, water bottles, toy penguins, utility vehicles, toy eggs, upholstered furniture, floods, CPSC meetings.

OTHER FEDERAL BRIEFS Briefs on child restraints, risk assessment, cosmetics, ATVs.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on plastic children's products, play equipment (3 briefs), playground surfacing, smoke release, baby swings, AFCIs, electric tools, battery chargers, panelboards, switches, conduit, electrical equipment, sprinklers.

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on chemicals, air conditioners, CD players, children's utensils, maracas, sleepers, stationery, cribs, bunk beds, RAPEX.

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEFS Briefs on recall effectiveness, bed sharing.