[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1115-1116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-422]



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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1615


Standard for the Flammability of Children's Sleepwear: Sizes 0 
Through 6X

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Revocation of rules.

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SUMMARY: The Commission revokes rules prescribing requirements for 
labeling, advertising, and retail display of children's sleepwear in 
sizes 0 through 6X manufactured between July 29, 1972, and July 29, 
1973. The Commission is revoking these rules because no children's 
sleepwear offered for sale now or in the future is or will be subject 
to the rules' requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 16, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allen F. Brauninger, Attorney, Office 
of the General Counsel, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, 
DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0980, extension 2216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

1. The Flammability Standard

    In 1971, the Department of Commerce (DOC) issued the Standard for 
the Flammability of Children's Sleepwear: Sizes 0 Through 6X under the 
authority of the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) (15 U.S.C. 1193). In 1972, 
DOC amended that standard. See the Federal Register notices of July 29, 
1971 (36 FR 14062), and July 21, 1972 (37 FR 14624). The standard is 
codified at 16 CFR Part 1615, Subpart A, and prescribes a flammability 
test for children's sleepwear garments and fabrics intended for use in 
those garments to protect children from unreasonable risks of burn 
deaths and injuries.

2. Labeling Requirements

    The amended flammability standard became effective on July 29, 
1972. However, the standard allowed the manufacture of noncomplying 
sleepwear for one year after the standard's effective date, provided 
that such garments were labeled with the following statement: 
``Flammable (Does Not Meet U.S. Department of Commerce Standard DOC FF 
3-71). Should not be worn near sources of fire.'' 16 CFR 1615.5(b). All 
children's sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X manufactured after July 29, 
1973, must comply with the standard.
    In 1972, Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) 

[[Page 1116]]
    (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.), which established the Consumer Product Safety 
Commission. Section 30(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2079(b)) transferred 
to the Commission the authority formerly exercised by DOC and other 
agencies under the FFA.
    In 1974, the Commission issued regulations for the labeling and 
advertising of children's sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X. 16 CFR Part 
1615, Subpart B. See the Federal Register notice of February 7, 1974 
(39 FR 4852). These regulations required noncomplying children's 
sleepwear manufactured between July 29, 1972, and July 29, 1973, to be 
labeled with the statement ``Flammable (Does Not Meet U.S. Department 
of Commerce Standard DOC FF 3-71). Should not be worn near sources of 
fire.'' 16 CFR 1615.31(b)(3). This is the same statement required by 
section 1615.5(b) of the standard.

3. Advertising and Retail Display Requirements

    The regulations issued in 1974 also required the labeling statement 
to be included in direct mail advertisements and catalogs for 
noncomplying children's sleepwear manufactured between July 29, 1972, 
and July 29, 1973. 16 CFR 1615.31(c).
    In 1974, the Commission amended the regulations by issuing 
additional requirements for labeling and requirements for recordkeeping 
and retail display of sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X. See the Federal 
Register notice of April 14, 1975 (40 FR 16654). The Commission 
required any person who sold noncomplying sleepwear at retail to 
segregate it from complying sleepwear and to identify noncomplying 
sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X by a sign stating: ``Flammable. Does 
Not Meet Standard for the Flammability of Children's Sleepwear (DOC 3-
71).'' 16 CFR 1615.31(d). Complying sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X 
sold at the same location as noncomplying sleepwear was required to be 
identified by a sign stating ``Flame Resistant. Complies With Standard 
for Flammability of Children's Sleepwear.'' Id.

B. Revocation

    Noncomplying sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X has not been legally 
manufactured since July 29, 1973. Noncomplying sleepwear subject to the 
labeling, advertising, and retail display requirements described above 
is not now offered for sale and will not be offered for sale in the 
future. For this reason, the Commission is revoking (i) the labeling 
requirements in section 1615.5(b) of the standard and in section 
1615.31(b)(3) of the enforcement regulations, (ii) the requirements for 
advertising of noncomplying sleepwear in section 1615.31(c) of the 
enforcement regulations, and (iii) the requirements for retail display 
of noncomplying and complying sleepwear in section 1615.31(d) of those 
regulations.
    Generally, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) 
requires agencies to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking and 
provide opportunity for public comment before issuing or revoking a 
regulation. However, the APA provides at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) that the 
requirement for a notice of proposed rulemaking is not applicable when 
the agency finds for good cause that notice of proposed rulemaking and 
public participation are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.''
    The Commission finds for good cause that notice of proposed 
rulemaking and public participation are unnecessary because no 
sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X offered for sale now or that will be 
offered for sale in the future is subject to the requirements of 16 CFR 
sections 1615.5(b), 1615.31(b)(3), 1615.31(c), or 1615.31(d). The rules 
being revoked have no effect on the rights or duties of any persons who 
manufacture, sell, or purchase sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X. 
Providing notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for submission 
of written comments on the proposal would be a meaningless procedure in 
this case.
    The APA also requires at 5 U.S.C. 553(d) that a substantive rule 
must be published at least 30 days before its effective date unless the 
agency finds for good cause that such delay is not needed. Again, 
because no sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X offered for sale now or in 
the future is or will be subject to the rules being revoked, the 
Commission finds for good cause that a delayed effective date is 
unnecessary. Consequently, this revocation shall become effective 
immediately.

C. Conclusion

    Under the authority of section 553 of the Administrative Procedure 
Act and sections 4 and 5 of the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Commission 
hereby amends title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter II, 
Subchapter D, Part 1615 as follows:

PART 1615--[AMENDED]

Subpart A--[Amended]

    1. The authority for Part 1615, Subpart A, continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 4, 67 Stat. 112, as amended, 81 Stat. 569-70; 15 
U.S.C. 1193.


Sec. 1615.5   [Removed and reserved]

    2. Section 1615.5(b) is removed and reserved.

Subpart B--[Amended]

    3. The authority for Part 1615, Subpart B, continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 5, 67 Stat. 112, as amended, 81 Stat. 570; 15 
U.S.C. 1194.


Sec. 1615.31   [Removed and reserved]

    4. Sections 1615.31(b)(3), (c), and (d) are removed and reserved.

(5 U.S.C. 553; 15 U.S.C. 1193, 1194)

    Dated: December 15, 1995.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 96-422 Filed 1-11-96; 2:00 pm]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P