[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 6052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2844]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Identification of Purchasers of Certain Products; Public Forum

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public forum.

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SUMMARY: On March 23, 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
(``CPSC'') staff will convene a public forum to explore how recall 
effectiveness could be enhanced by increased efforts to identify 
purchasers of consumer products through product registration, warranty 
cards or other means. The staff seeks written comments and oral 
presentations from individuals, associations, firms, and government 
agencies with information relevant to this topic. In addition, the 
staff is setting up panels of presenters made up of representatives of 
federal agencies that use product registration for recalls, industry 
members that use product registration cards, and consumer 
organizations.

DATES: The forum will commence at 9:30 a.m. on March 23, 1999. Requests 
to make oral presentations, and the text of the presentations, must be 
received by the Office of the Secretary no later than February 26, 
1999. Persons planning to make presentations at the forum should submit 
10 copies of the text of their prepared remarks to the Office of the 
Secretary no later than February 26 1999, and provide an additional 50 
copies for dissemination on the date of the forum. Written comments 
that are in place of, or in addition to, oral presentations must be 
received by the Office of the Secretary no later than March 5, 1999. 
Written comments must include the author's affiliation with, or 
employment or sponsorship by, any professional organization, government 
agency, or business firm. The staff reserves the right to limit the 
number of persons who participate and the duration of their 
presentations.

ADDRESSES: The forum will be in Room 420, CPSC's Hearing Room of the 
East-West Towers Building, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD. 
Written comments, requests to make oral presentations, and texts of 
oral presentations should be captioned ``Purchaser Identification'' 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 20814. Comments, 
requests, and texts of oral presentations may also be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Hershman, Compliance Officer, 
Recalls and Compliance Division, U.S. Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0608, extension 
1356; fax (301) 504-0359; or Melissa Hampshire, Attorney, Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, 
D.C.; telephone (301) 504-0980, extension 2208; fax (301) 504-0403. For 
information about the schedule for submission of written comments, 
requests to make oral presentations, and submission of texts of oral 
presentations, call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone 
(301) 504-0800, extension 1232; fax (301) 504-0127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The staff believes that recall notification 
could be facilitated if manufacturers were better able to identify the 
purchasers of their products. More effective recall notification could 
lead to a higher proportion of products returned for refund, repair or 
replacement. This, in turn, would enhance the safety of American 
consumers.
    The staff has identified a number of issues:
     What products might be best-suited for such a proposal? 
Should lines be drawn, and, if so, would they be based on product cost; 
durability; historic injury experience; intended users, such as 
children; or other factors?
     How could purchaser identification information be 
assembled in a cost-effective and comprehensive manner?
     What is the scope and extent of the Commission's legal 
authority to require manufacturers to ascertain and maintain the 
identities of the purchasers of their products?
    The staff expects to explore these and other related issues during 
the forum.
    Some companies have been highly successful in assembling purchaser 
information through use of warranty cards or other means. These 
companies have been able to use this information to achieve commendable 
return rates in the event of a recall. The staff particularly solicits 
participation from such companies.
    The staff also is aware that in certain instances, companies are 
required by law to collect purchaser information. For example, by 
regulation the Department of Transportation has facilitated the 
collection of such information pertaining to car seats. 49 CFR Part 
588. The staff solicits participation of car seat manufacturers, who 
could provide pertinent information about their experience with 
registration cards. Similarly, by law, certain manufacturers of medical 
devices must track their purchasers. 21 U.S.C. 360i(e). We solicit 
input from such manufacturers, as well as from any manufacturer 
required by federal, state or local law to identify product purchasers 
and maintain that information for some period of time. The Commission 
is conducting this inquiry under Section 27(a) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 
2076(a).

    Dated: February 2, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-2844 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-U