PRODUCT SAFETY LETTER View the entire issue in PDF format.

OHV INDUSTRY SEEKS CPSC LEAD-CONTENT RELIEF Lawyers representing the various makers of ATVs and other off-road vehicles (OHVs) sought feedback from CPSC staff March 11 on excluding components of youth models from the CPSIA lead limits.

BIKE MAKERS LOOK FOR LOWER-LEAD SOLUTIONS The variability of available materials is the primary challenge facing the bicycle manufacturing industry in complying with the CPSIA lead limits.

CPSC MULLS DEFINITIONS FOR PHTHALATES RULES Definitions will play a critical role in CPSC’s regulation of phthalates, and they might not be what industry is expecting.

RECALL GUIDE PROPOSAL IS IMMINENT Watch the Federal Register this week for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on recall guidelines.

CHAP NOMINATIONS EXPECTED BY MONTH’S END CPSC is expecting by March 31 nominations to the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) required by the CPSIA.

MAKE ROMAN SHADE CORDS INACCESSIBLE URGES CPSC The best way to ensure that Roman shades are safe is to make the cords inaccessible, CPSC March 9 told the Window Covering Manufacturing Association (WCMA).

U.S. AND CANADA JOINTLY HANDLE SECOND RECALL CPSC and Health Canada March 11 jointly handled a recall for the second time. This corrective action involved 184,000 infant toys distributed by Infantino that have blue metallic fabric that can detach.

RAPEX NUMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY IS AT 2008 LEVEL The 165 RAPEX reports received by the EU in February put it at roughly the point it was through two months in 2008.

ART MATERIAL MAKERS SEEK CPSC CERTIFICATION CLARIFICATION CPSC needs to ensure that art material makers certify to industry standards rather than CPSC standards, the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) is stressing to the agency.

TIA SAYS IT WILL GIVE TOY TESTING PROTOCOL TO CPSC The Toy Industry Association (TIA) March 10 said that it will be submitting lead-testing protocol to CPSC later in the month.

CONN, DEL, NJ GET BPA OUT OF BOTTLES The six top makers of baby bottles March 5 said they will remove bisphenol A (BPA) from the products.

CPSC BRIEFS Briefs on funding the CPSIA, refrigerators, bicycles, ice skates, hair dryers, fire extinguishers, paintball, sweatshirts, propane gas, fishing games, fire/CO stats, CPSC meetings.

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEF Brief on lawsuits.

STANDARDS & TESTING BRIEFS Briefs on storage chests, helmets, bike trailers, treestands, amusement rides, building material, plastic parts, materials, fire extinguishers, lithium ion batteries, wiring, garage doors, generators (2 briefs), cords, fire alarms, flotation devices, immersion suits, electrical insulation, refrigerating, dampers (2 briefs).

FOREIGN & INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Briefs on refrigerators, plush toys, animal hair spray, adapters, gas oven,s baby clothes, RAPEX.

STATE ACTIVITY BRIEFS Briefs on VOCs, Connecticut.