[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 232 (Monday, December 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62077-62078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29376]



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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Request for Comments Concerning Proposed Extension of Approval of 
a Collection of Information--Electrically Operated Toys and Children's 
Articles

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments on a 
proposed extension of approval of a collection of information from 
manufacturers and importers of certain electrically operated toys and 
children's articles. The collection of information consists of testing 
and recordkeeping requirements in regulations entitled ``Requirements 
for Electrically Operated Toys or Other Electrically Operated Articles 
Intended for Use by Children,'' codified at 16 CFR part 1505.
    The Commission will consider all comments received in response to 
this notice before requesting an extension of this collection of 
information from the Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the Office of the Secretary 
not later than February 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Electrically Operated 
Toys'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that office, 
room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed 
extension of the collection of information, or to obtain a copy of 16 
CFR part 1505, call or write Nicholas V. Marchica, Director, Office of 
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0416, extension 2243.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1973, the Commission issued safety 
requirements for electrically operated toys and children's articles to 
protect children from unreasonable risks of injury from electric shock, 
electrical burns, and thermal burns. These regulations are codified at 
16 CFR part 1505 and were issued under the authority of sections 2 and 
3 of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261, 1262).

A. Requirements for Electrically Operated Toys

    These regulations are applicable to toys, games, and other articles 
intended for use by children which are powered by electrical current 
from a 120 volt circuit. Video games and articles designed primarily 
for use by adults which may be incidentally used by children are not 
subject to these regulations.
    The regulations prescribe design, construction, performance, and 
labeling requirements for electrically operated toys and children's 
articles. The regulations also require manufacturers and importers of 
those products to develop and maintain a quality assurance program. 
Additionally, section 1505.4(a)(3) of the regulations requires those 
firms to maintain records for three years containing information about: 
(1) Material and production specifications; (2) the quality assurance 
program used; (3) results of all tests and inspections conducted; and 
(4) sales and distribution of electrically operated toys and children's 
articles.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection 
of information requirements in the regulations under control number 
3041-0035. OMB's most recent extension of approval expired on February 
28, 1995. The Commission now proposes to request a reinstatement of 
approval without change for the information collection requirements in 
the regulations.
    The safety need for this collection of information remains. 
Specifically, if a manufacturer or importer distributes products that 
violate the requirements of the regulations, the records required by 
section 1505.4(a)(3) can be used by the firm and the Commission (i) to 
identify specific lots or production lines of products which fail to 
comply with applicable requirements, and (ii) to notify distributors 
and retailers in the event the products are subject to recall.

B. Estimated Burden

    The Commission staff estimates that about 40 firms are subject to 
the testing and recordkeeping requirements of the regulations. The 
Commission staff estimates further that the burden imposed by the 
regulations on each of these firms is approximately 160 hours per year 
for testing, and about 40 hours a year for recordkeeping. Thus, the 
total annual burden imposed by the regulations on all manufacturers and 
importers is about 8,000 hours.
    The Commission staff estimates that the hourly wage for the time 
required to perform the required testing and to maintain the required 
records is about $13, and that the annual total cost to the industry is 
approximately $104,000.
    During a typical year, the Commission will expend approximately one 
week of professional staff time reviewing records required to be 
maintained by the regulations for electrically operated toys. The 
annual cost to the Federal government of the collection of information 
collection in these regulations is estimated to be $1,400.

C. Request for Comments

    The Commission solicits written comments from all interested 
persons about the proposed extension of approval of the collection of 
information in the regulations for electrically operated toys and 
children's articles. The Commission specifically solicits information 
about the hourly burden and monetary costs imposed by the collection of 
information on firms subject to this collection of information. The 
Commission also seeks information relevant to the following topics:
     Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the Commission's functions;
     Whether the information will have practical utility for 
the Commission;
     Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected could be enhanced; and
     Whether the burden imposed by the collection of 
information could be minimized by use of automated, electronic or other 
technological 

[[Page 62078]]
collection techniques, or other form of information technology.

    Dated: November 28, 1995.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 95-29376 Filed 12-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P