[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 70756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33864]



[[Page 70756]]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Petition Requesting a Ban of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in All Toys 
and Other Products Intended for Children 5 Years of Age and Under

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has received a petition under the Federal 
Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) (Petition No. HP 99-1) from the 
National Environmental Trust and 11 other organizations. The petition 
asks the Commission to ban the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in toys 
and other products intended for the use of children age 5 and under. 
The Commission solicits written comments concerning the petition from 
all interested parties.

DATES: Comments on the petition should be received in the Office of the 
Secretary by February 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the petition should be mailed to the Office of 
the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 
20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, or delivered to the Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, room 502, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to [email protected]. 
Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 99-1--PVC Children's 
Articles.'' Copies of the petition are available by writing or calling 
the Office of the Secretary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockelle Hammond, Docket Control and 
Communications Specialist, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, DC 20207; telephone: (301) 504-0800 ext. 1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has docketed correspondence 
from the National Environmental Trust and 11 other organizations as a 
petition under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) (Petition 
No. HP 99-1). The petition requests that the CPSC (1) ``[i]nstitute an 
immediate ban on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in all toys and other 
products intended for children five years of age and under'' and (2) 
``[i]ssue a national advisory on the health risks that have been 
associated with soft plastic vinyl (PVC) toys to inform parents and 
consumers about the risks associated with PVC toys currently in stores 
and homes.'' These requests result from the petitioners' concerns about 
health risks from phthalates (especially DINP), lead, and cadmium that 
can be in PVC.
    The Commission solicits comments on the issues raised by the 
petition, particularly on the extent to which children might be exposed 
to the identified hazards. The requested ``national advisory'' would 
not require rulemaking to implement. Therefore, that request 
technically is not part of the docketed petition. Nevertheless, the 
Commission solicits comment on this request also.
    Comments to CPSC should be mailed, preferably in five copies, to 
the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland; telephone (301) 504-0800. Comments may 
also be filed by telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to cpsc-
[email protected]. Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 99-1--PVC 
Children's Articles.''
    Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition from the 
CPSC's website at http://www.cpsc.gov or by writing or calling the 
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800. A copy of the petition 
is available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, in the Commission's Public Reading Room, room 502, 4330 East-
West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

    Dated: December 16, 1998.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-33864 Filed 12-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-U