[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 38948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19019]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1700


Household Products Containing Petroleum Distillates and Other 
Hydrocarbons; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Reopening of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period for advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: There are child-resistant packaging standards in effect under 
the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (``PPPA'') for some products that 
contain petroleum distillates or other hydrocarbons. In the Federal 
Register of February 26, 1997, the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
(``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') published an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (``ANPR'') requesting comments on whether additional 
products containing these substances should be subject to child-
resistant packaging standards. 62 FR 8659. At the request of the 
Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (``CSMA''), the 
Commission extended the period for receiving written comments on the 
ANPR until July 11, 1997. 62 FR 22897 (April 28, 1997).
    As requested by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association 
(``CTFA''), the Commission further reopens the comment period until 
September 1, 1997.

DATES: Written comments in response to the ANPR must be received by the 
Commission by September 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, should be mailed to the 
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20814; telephone (301) 504-0800. Alternatively, 
comments may be filed by telefacsimile to (301)504-0127 or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Comments should be captioned ``Comments on ANPR for 
Petroleum Distillates.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Barone, Directorate for 
Epidemiology and Health Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0477, ext. 1196.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Existing PPPA standards require child-
resistant packaging for some products that contain petroleum 
distillates or other hydrocarbons. Aspiration of small amounts of these 
chemicals into the lung can cause chemical pneumonia, pulmonary damage, 
and death.
    In the Federal Register of February 26, 1997, the CPSC published an 
ANPR that initiated a rulemaking proceeding to consider whether 
additional household products containing petroleum distillates and 
other hydrocarbons should be subject to PPPA standards. 62 FR 8659. The 
Commission solicited written comments from interested persons 
concerning these risks, the regulatory alternatives discussed in the 
ANPR, other possible means to address the risks, and the economic 
impacts of the various regulatory alternatives. The Commission 
originally provided for a 75-day comment period, which would have 
expired on May 12, 1997. At the request of the CSMA, the Commission 
extended the period for receiving written comments on the ANPR until 
July 11, 1997. 62 FR 22897 (April 28, 1997).
    By a letter dated July 1, 1997, the CTFA requested a further 
extension of the comment period until September 1, 1997. CTFA asserted 
that additional time was needed because the ANPR lacked a definition of 
``petroleum distillates,'' and there was confusion among CTFA's members 
regarding which petroleum distillates would be contained in cosmetic 
products, if any. CTFA also has asserted that some of its member 
companies have recently become aware that several product categories 
not previously contemplated by manufacturers could be affected by the 
ANPR. Further, CTFA claimed that because cosmetics are not generally 
subject to CPSC's statutes (except the Poison Prevention Packaging 
Act), a significant effort was required to educate CTFA's members about 
the rulemaking and request for information. CTFA stated that additional 
time is required in order to submit accurate, complete, and useful 
information to the agency to enable the staff to assess the impact of 
the ANPR on the cosmetics industry.
    CTFA represents companies that can supply valuable information 
concerning the issues identified in the ANPR. Accordingly, the 
Commission granted its request for an extension of the comment period, 
and reopens the period for submission of written comments to September 
1, 1997.

    Dated: July 15, 1997.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-19019 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-U