[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67692-67693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27751]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Notice of Teleconference of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel on 
Phthalates and Phthalate Substitutes

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or 
``Commission'') is announcing a teleconference of the Chronic Hazard 
Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes. The 
Commission appointed this CHAP to study the effects on children's 
health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in 
children's toys and child care articles, pursuant to section 108 of the 
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (Pub. L. 110-
314). The CHAP will discuss possible risk assessment approaches for 
phthalates and phthalate substitutes.

DATES: The teleconference will take place at 5 p.m. GMT (12 p.m. EST) 
on Wednesday, November 15, 2010. Interested members of the public may 
listen to the CHAP's discussion. Members of the public will not have 
the opportunity to ask questions, comment, or otherwise participate in 
the teleconference. Interested parties should contact the CPSC project 
manager,

[[Page 67693]]

Michael Babich, by e-mail ([email protected]) for call-in instructions 
no later than November 4, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request access to the 
teleconference, contact the project manager by e-mail at 
[email protected], no later than Thursday, November 4, 2010. For all 
other questions, contact: Michael Babich, Directorate for Health 
Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
telephone (301) 504-7253; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 108 of the CPSIA permanently 
prohibits the sale of any ``children's toy or child care article'' 
containing more than 0.1 percent of each of three specified phthalates: 
Di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and 
benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). Section 108 of the CPSIA also prohibits, 
on an interim basis, the sale of any ``children's toy that can be 
placed in a child's mouth'' or ``child care article'' containing more 
than 0.1 percent of each of three additional phthalates: diisononyl 
phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and di-n-octyl phthalate 
(DnOP).
    Moreover, section 108 of the CPSIA requires the Commission to 
convene a CHAP ``to study the effects on children's health of all 
phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and 
child care articles.'' The CPSIA requires the CHAP to complete an 
examination of the full range of phthalates that are used in products 
for children and:

     Examine all of the potential health effects (including 
endocrine disrupting effects) of the full range of phthalates;
     Consider the potential health effects of each of these 
phthalates, both in isolation and in combination with other 
phthalates;
     Examine the likely levels of children's, pregnant 
women's, and others' exposure to phthalates, based on a reasonable 
estimation of normal and foreseeable use and abuse of such products;
     Consider the cumulative effect of total exposure to 
phthalates, both from children's products and from other sources, 
such as personal care products;
     Review all relevant data, including the most recent, 
best-available, peer-reviewed, scientific studies of these 
phthalates and phthalate alternatives that employ objective data 
collection practices or employ other objective methods;
     Consider the health effects of phthalates not only from 
ingestion but also as a result of dermal, hand-to-mouth, or other 
exposure;
     Consider the level at which there is a reasonable 
certainty of no harm to children, pregnant women, or other 
susceptible individuals and their offspring, considering the best 
available science, and using sufficient safety factors to account 
for uncertainties regarding exposure and susceptibility of children, 
pregnant women, and other potentially susceptible individuals; and
     Consider possible similar health effects of phthalate 
alternatives used in children's toys and child care articles.

    The CHAP's examination must be conducted de novo, and the CPSIA 
contemplates completion of the CHAP's examination within 18 months of 
the CHAP's appointment. The CHAP must review prior work on phthalates 
by the Commission, but it is not to be considered determinative.
    The CHAP must make recommendations to the Commission regarding any 
phthalates (or combinations of phthalates) in addition to those 
identified in section 108 of the CPSIA or phthalate alternatives that 
the panel determines should be prohibited from use in children's toys 
or child care articles or otherwise restricted. The CHAP members were 
selected by the Commission from scientists nominated by the National 
Academy of Sciences. See 15 U.S.C. 2077, 2030(b).
    The CHAP previously met April 14 and 15, 2010, and July 26 and 28, 
2010, at the Commission's offices in Bethesda, MD. The CHAP is holding 
a teleconference on November 15, 2010, in preparation for its next 
meeting December 2 through 3, 2010. The November teleconference and 
December meeting will include discussions of possible risk assessment 
approaches.

    Dated: October 29, 2010.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2010-27751 Filed 11-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P