[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54218-54222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22235]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

[CPSC Docket No. CPSC-2011-0050]


Third Party Testing for Certain Children's Products; Toys: 
Requirements for Accreditation of Third Party Conformity Assessment 
Bodies

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Requirements.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC,'' 
``Commission,'' or ``we'') is issuing a notice of requirements that 
provides the criteria and process for Commission acceptance of 
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing, 
pursuant to ASTM International's (formerly the American Society for 
Testing and Materials) (``ASTM'') Standard Consumer Safety 
Specification for Toy Safety, F 963-08 (``ASTM F 963-08''), and section 
4.27 (toy chests) from ASTM International's F 963-07e1 version of the 
standard (``ASTM F 963-07e1''), which are the consumer product safety 
standards for toys, pursuant to section 106 of the Consumer Product 
Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Public Law 110-314. The 
Commission is issuing this notice of requirements pursuant to section 
14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 
2063(a)(3)(B)(vi)).

DATES: Effective Date: The requirements for accreditation of third 
party conformity assessment bodies to assess conformity with ASTM F 
963-08 and/or section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 are effective upon 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.\1\
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    \1\ The Commission voted 5-0 to publish this notice of 
requirements. Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum and Commissioner Nancy A. 
Nord each issued a statement, and the statements can be found at 
http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/statements.html.
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    Comments in response to this notice of requirements should be 
submitted by September 30, 2011. Comments on this notice should be 
captioned ``Third party Testing for Certain Children's Products; Toys: 
Requirements for Accreditation of Third party Conformity Assessment 
Bodies.''

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2011-
0050, by any of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following 
way:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. To ensure timely processing of 
comments, the Commission is no longer accepting comments submitted by 
electronic mail (e-mail) except through http://www.regulations.gov.
    Written Submissions: Submit written submissions in the following 
ways: Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM 
submissions) preferably in five copies, to: Office of the Secretary, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, 
Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. All comments received may be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Do not submit confidential business information, 
trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information 
(such as a Social Security Number) electronically; if furnished at all, 
such information should be submitted in writing.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard McCallion, Team Leader for the 
Mechanical, Recreation, and Sports Program Area, U.S. Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; e-
mail [email protected]. CPSC intends to issue a Federal Register 
notice providing information about its proposed education and outreach 
plan for stakeholders directly affected by the Notice of Requirements 
for Third Party Testing for Certain Children's Products. The Federal 
Register notice will also request public comment and input. Many of the 
informative materials for stakeholders will be available at a dedicated 
toy safety standard webpage: http://www.cpsc.gov/toysafety.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    Section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the CPSA, as added by section 102(a)(2) 
of the CPSIA, directs the CPSC to publish a notice of requirements for 
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies to assess 
children's products for conformity with ``other children's product 
safety rules.'' Section 14(f)(1) of the CPSA defines ``children's 
product safety rule'' as ``a consumer product safety rule under [the 
CPSA] or similar rule, regulation, standard, or ban under any other Act 
enforced by the Commission, including a rule declaring a consumer 
product to be a banned hazardous product or substance.'' Under section 
14(a)(3)(A) of the CPSA, each manufacturer (including the importer) or 
private labeler of products subject to those regulations must have 
products that are manufactured more than 90 days after the Federal 
Register publication date of a notice of the requirements for 
accreditation, tested by a third party conformity assessment body 
accredited to do so, and must issue a certificate of compliance with 
the applicable regulations based on that testing. Section 14(a)(2) of 
the CPSA, as added by section 102(a)(2) of the CPSIA, requires that 
certification be based on testing of sufficient samples of the product, 
or samples that are identical in all material respects to the product. 
The Commission also emphasizes that, irrespective of certification, the 
product in question must comply with applicable CPSC requirements (see, 
e.g., section 14(h) of the CPSA, as added by section 102(b) of the 
CPSIA).
    This notice provides the criteria and process for Commission 
acceptance of accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies 
for testing toys, pursuant to ASTM F 963-08, and for testing toy 
chests, pursuant to section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1. ASTM F 963-08 and 
section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 are voluntary standards, but under 
section 106(a) of the CPSIA, they have become mandatory federal 
requirements, ``except for section 4.2 and Annex 4 [of ASTM F 963], or 
any provision that restates or incorporates an existing mandatory 
standard or ban promulgated by the Commission or by statute.'' Readers 
may obtain a copy of ASTM F 963-08 and/or ASTM F 963-07e1 from ASTM 
International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, 
PA, 19428-2959; (610)-832-9500; http://www.astm.org.
    Section 106(a) of the CPSIA states that, beginning 180 days after 
August 14, 2008--the date the CPSIA was enacted--ASTM F 963-07 shall be 
considered a consumer product safety standard issued by the Commission 
under section 9 of the CPSA. Under section 106(g) of the CPSIA, when 
ASTM proposes to revise ASTM F 963, it must notify the Commission of 
the proposed revision. The revised standard will be considered the 
consumer

[[Page 54219]]

product safety standard effective 180 days after the date on which ASTM 
notified the Commission of the revision, unless the Commission objects 
within the first 90 days of the 180-day period. If the Commission 
determines that the proposed revision does not improve the safety of a 
consumer product, the Commission can notify ASTM that the already-
existing standard will continue to be considered the consumer product 
safety standard.
    ASTM proposed F 963-08 as a revised standard in February 2009, and 
on May 13, 2009, the Commission voted to accept F 963-08 as the 
consumer product safety standard for toys, except the revision omitting 
section 4.27 related to toy chests, which the Commission retained from 
the previous version of F 963 (ASTM F 963-07e1). Accordingly, ASTM F 
963-08 and section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 (toy chests) are considered 
consumer product safety standards issued by the Commission under 
section 9 of the CPSA.
    We anticipate the ASTM F963-08 standard is likely to be revised and 
updated in the future. Given this possibility, the Commission seeks 
comments now on how to make the transition in testing requirements as 
clear and efficient as possible should the standard change.
    We note that ordinarily, when the Commission bases a mandatory 
requirement on a voluntary standard, we incorporate the voluntary 
standard by reference, in accordance with the rules of the Office of 
the Federal Register. See 1 CFR part 51. However, in this instance, 
ASTM F 963 became a consumer product safety standard by operation of 
law, rather than by an act of the Commission. See Public Law 110-314 
Sec.  106(a), (g). Therefore the Commission does not need to 
incorporate ASTM F 963 by reference.
    We also note that certain provisions of ASTM F 963-08 and section 
4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 will not be subject to third party testing and 
therefore we will not be accepting accreditations to those excepted 
sections. The exceptions are as follows:
     Those sections of ASTM F 963-08 that address food and 
cosmetics, products traditionally outside the Commission's 
jurisdiction.
     Those sections of ASTM F 963-08 that pertain to the 
manufacturing process and thus, cannot be evaluated meaningfully by a 
test of the finished product (e.g., the purified water provision at 
section 4.3.6.1).
     Requirements for labeling, instructional literature, or 
producer's markings in ASTM F 963-08 or section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-
07e1. We have taken similar positions in other contexts. For example, 
the Commission has stated that it will not require testing and 
certification to the labeling requirements under the Federal Hazardous 
Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. 1261-1278. See 74 FR 68588, 68591 (Dec. 28, 
2009) (Notice of Commission Action on the Stay of Enforcement of 
Testing and Certification Requirements). We also do not require third 
party testing for the labeling requirements for children's sleepwear 
under the Flammable Fabrics Act, 15 U.S.C. 1191-1204. See 75 FR 70911, 
70913 (Nov. 19, 2010) (Third Party Testing for Certain Children's 
Products; Children's Sleepwear, Sizes 0 Through 6X and 7 Through 14: 
Requirements for Accreditation of Third Party Conformity Assessment 
Bodies).
     Those sections of ASTM F 963-08 that involve assessments 
that are conducted by the unaided eye and without any sort of tool or 
device.
     Section 4.3.8 of ASTM F 963-08, pertaining to a specific 
phthalate, because section 108 of the CPSIA specifically addresses 
phthalates and will be the subject of a separate notice of 
requirements.
    In sum, the Commission will only require certain provisions of ASTM 
F 963-08 and Section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 to be subject to third 
party testing and therefore we will only accept the accreditation of 
third party conformity assessment bodies for testing under the 
following toy safety standards:

     ASTM F 963-07e1:

--Section 4.27--Toy Chests (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).

     ASTM F 963-08:

--Section 4.3.5.2, Surface Coating Materials--Soluble Test for 
Metals.\2\
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    \2\ Products subject to 16 CFR part 1303, Ban of Lead-Containing 
Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint, 
that have been tested by a CPSC-accepted third party conformity 
assessment body and found not to exceed the lead limit in 16 CFR 
part 1303, do not need to be tested to the lead solubility standard 
in section 4.3.5.2 of ASTM F 963-08.
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--Section 4.3.6.3, Cleanliness of Liquids, Pastes, Putties, Gels, and 
Powders (except for cosmetics and tests on formulations used to prevent 
microbial degradation).
--Section 4.3.7, Stuffing Materials.
--Section 4.5, Sound Producing Toys.
--Section 4.6, Small Objects (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.7, Accessible Edges (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.8, Projections.
--Section 4.9, Accessible Points (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.10, Wires or Rods.
--Section 4.11, Nails and Fasteners.
--Section 4.12, Packaging Film.
--Section 4.13, Folding Mechanisms and Hinges.
--Section 4.14, Cords, Straps, and Elastics.
--Section 4.15, Stability and Overload Requirements.
--Section 4.16, Confined Spaces.
--Section 4.17, Wheels, Tires, and Axles.
--Section 4.18, Holes, Clearances, and Accessibility of Mechanisms.
--Section 4.19, Simulated Protective Devices (except labeling and/or 
instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.20.1, Pacifiers with Rubber Nipples/Nitrosamine Test.
--Section 4.20.2, Toy Pacifiers.
--Section 4.21, Projectile Toys.
--Section 4.22, Teethers and Teething Toys.
--Section 4.23.1, Rattles with Nearly Spherical, Hemispherical, or 
Circular Flared Ends.
--Section 4.24, Squeeze Toys.
--Section 4.25, Battery-Operated Toys (except labeling and/or 
instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.26, Toys Intended to Be Attached to a Crib or Playpen 
(except labeling and/or instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.27, Stuffed and Beanbag-Type Toys.
--Section 4.30, Toy Gun Marking.
--Section 4.32, Certain Toys with Spherical Ends.
--Section 4.35, Pompoms.
--Section 4.36, Hemispheric-Shaped Objects.
--Section 4.37, Yo-Yo Elastic Tether Toys.
--Section 4.38, Magnets (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.39, Jaw Entrapment in Handles and Steering Wheels.
    We note that the ASTM toy safety standards cover toys intended for 
use by children under 14 years of age. See, e.g., section 1.3 of ASTM F 
963-08. However, only ``children's products'' are required to be third 
party tested in support of the children's product certificate required 
by section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA. Section 3(a)(2) of the CPSA defines 
``children's product,'' to mean, inter alia, ``a consumer product 
designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or 
younger.'' To the extent that there are products subject to ASTM F 963-
08 and/or section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 that

[[Page 54220]]

are not ``children's products,'' as that term is defined in the CPSA, 
such products do not need to be third party tested in support of the 
certification required by section 14 of the CPSA.
    Although section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the CPSA directs the CPSC to 
publish a notice of requirements for accreditation of third party 
conformity assessment bodies to assess conformity with ``all other 
children's product safety rules,'' this notice of requirements is 
limited to the safety standards identified immediately above.
    The CPSC also recognizes that section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the CPSA 
is captioned: ``All Other Children's Product Safety Rules''; however, 
the body of the statutory requirement refers only to ``other children's 
product safety rules.'' Nevertheless, section 14(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the 
CPSA could be construed to require a notice of requirements for ``all'' 
other children's product safety rules, rather than a notice of 
requirements for ``some'' or ``certain'' children's product safety 
rules. However, whether a particular rule represents a ``children's 
product safety rule'' may be subject to interpretation, and Commission 
staff is continuing to evaluate which rules, regulations, standards, or 
bans are ``children's product safety rules.'' The CPSC intends to issue 
additional notices of requirements for other rules that the Commission 
determines to be ``children's product safety rules.''
    This notice of requirements applies to all third party conformity 
assessment bodies as described in section 14(f)(2) of the CPSA. 
Generally speaking, such third party conformity assessment bodies are: 
(1) Third party conformity assessment bodies that are not owned, 
managed, or controlled by a manufacturer or private labeler of a 
children's product to be tested by the third party conformity 
assessment body for certification purposes; (2) ``firewalled'' 
conformity assessment bodies (those that are owned, managed, or 
controlled by a manufacturer or private labeler of a children's product 
to be tested by the third party conformity assessment body for 
certification purposes and that seek accreditation under the additional 
statutory criteria for ``firewalled'' conformity assessment bodies); 
and (3) third party conformity assessment bodies owned or controlled, 
in whole or in part, by a government.
    The Commission requires baseline accreditation of each category of 
third party conformity assessment body to the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical 
Commission (IEC) Standard 17025:2005, ``General Requirements for the 
Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.'' The accreditation 
must be by an accreditation body that is a signatory to the 
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation-Mutual Recognition 
Arrangement (ILAC-MRA), and the scope of the accreditation must include 
clear references to those sections of ASTM F 963-08 and/or 4.27 of ASTM 
F 963-07e1 identified earlier in part I of this document for which the 
third party conformity assessment body seeks CPSC acceptance.
    (Descriptions of the history and content of the ILAC-MRA approach 
and of the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 laboratory 
accreditation standard are provided in the CPSC staff briefing 
memorandum ``Third Party Conformity Assessment Body Accreditation 
Requirements for Testing Compliance with 16 CFR Part 1501 (Small Parts 
Regulations),'' dated November 2008, and available on the CPSC's Web 
site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/smallparts.pdf).
    The Commission has established an electronic accreditation 
registration and listing system that can be accessed via its Web site 
at: http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/labaccred.html.
    The Commission stayed the enforcement of certain provisions of 
section 14(a) of the CPSA in a notice published in the Federal Register 
on February 9, 2009 (74 FR 6396); the stay applied to testing and 
certification of various products, including those covered by the 
safety standards in ASTM F 963. On December 28, 2009 the Commission 
published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 68588) revising the 
terms of the stay. One section of the December 28, 2009 notice 
addressed ``Consumer Products or Children's Products Where the 
Commission Is Continuing the Stay of Enforcement Until Further 
Notice,'' due to factors such as pending rulemaking proceedings 
affecting the product or the absence of a notice of requirements. The 
ASTM F 963 testing and certification requirements were included in that 
section of the December 28, 2009 notice. The absence of a notice of 
requirements prevented the testing and certification stay from being 
lifted with regard to toys subject to ASTM F 963. While the publication 
of this notice would have had the effect of lifting the testing and 
certification stay with regard to ASTM F 963, at the decisional meeting 
on July 20, 2011, the Commission voted to stay enforcement of the 
testing and certification requirements of section 14 of the CPSA with 
respect to toys subject to ASTM F 963 until December 31, 2011.
    Accordingly, each manufacturer of a children's product covered by F 
963-08 and/or section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 (toy chests) must have 
any such product manufactured after December 31, 2011, tested by a 
third party conformity assessment body accredited to do so and must 
issue a certificate of compliance with applicable sections of ASTM F 
963-08 and/or section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1 based on that testing. 
(Under the CPSA, the term ``manufacturer'' includes anyone who 
manufactures or imports a product.)
    This notice of requirements is exempt from the notice and comment 
rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 
553 (see section 14(a)(3)(G) of the CPSA, as added by section 102(a)(2) 
of the CPSIA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(3)(G)).

II. Accreditation Requirements

A. Baseline Third Party Conformity Assessment Body Accreditation 
Requirements

    For a third party conformity assessment body to be accredited to 
test children's products for conformity with one or more of the ASTM F 
963 toy standards identified earlier in part I of this document, it 
must be accredited by an ILAC-MRA signatory accrediting body, and the 
accreditation must be registered with, and accepted by, the Commission. 
A listing of ILAC-MRA signatory accrediting bodies is available on the 
Internet at: http://ilac.org/membersbycategory.html. The accreditation 
must be to ISO Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005, ``General Requirements for 
the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories,'' and the scope 
of the accreditation must expressly include references to one or more 
of the following sections of ASTM F 963-08, Standard Consumer Safety 
Specification for Toy Safety, and/or 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1, the 
consumer product safety standard for toy chests:
     ASTM F 963-07e1:

--Section 4.27--Toy Chests (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).

     ASTM F 963-08:

--Section 4.3.5.2, Surface Coating Materials--Soluble Test for Metals.
--Section 4.3.6.3, Cleanliness of Liquids, Pastes, Putties, Gels, and 
Powders (except for cosmetics and tests on formulations used to prevent 
microbial degradation).
--Section 4.3.7, Stuffing Materials.
--Section 4.5, Sound Producing Toys.
--Section 4.6, Small Objects (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).

[[Page 54221]]

--Section 4.7, Accessible Edges (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.8, Projections.
--Section 4.9, Accessible Points (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.10, Wires or Rods.
--Section 4.11, Nails and Fasteners.
--Section 4.12, Packaging Film.
--Section 4.13, Folding Mechanisms and Hinges.
--Section 4.14, Cords, Straps, and Elastics.
--Section 4.15, Stability and Overload Requirements.
--Section 4.16, Confined Spaces.
--Section 4.17, Wheels, Tires, and Axles.
--Section 4.18, Holes, Clearances, and Accessibility of Mechanisms.
--Section 4.19, Simulated Protective Devices (except labeling and/or 
instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.20.1, Pacifiers with Rubber Nipples/Nitrosamine Test.
--Section 4.20.2, Toy Pacifiers.
--Section 4.21, Projectile Toys.
--Section 4.22, Teethers and Teething Toys.
--Section 4.23.1, Rattles with Nearly Spherical, Hemispherical, or 
Circular Flared Ends.
--Section 4.24, Squeeze Toys.
--Section 4.25, Battery-Operated Toys (except labeling and/or 
instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.26, Toys Intended to Be Attached to a Crib or Playpen 
(except labeling and/or instructional literature requirements).
--Section 4.27, Stuffed and Beanbag-Type Toys.
--Section 4.30, Toy Gun Marking.
--Section 4.32, Certain Toys with Spherical Ends.
--Section 4.35, Pompoms.
--Section 4.36, Hemispheric-Shaped Objects.
--Section 4.37, Yo-Yo Elastic Tether Toys.
--Section 4.38, Magnets (except labeling and/or instructional 
literature requirements).
--Section 4.39, Jaw Entrapment in Handles and Steering Wheels.

A true copy, in English, of the accreditation and scope documents 
demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this notice must be 
registered with the Commission electronically. The additional 
requirements for accreditation of firewalled and governmental 
conformity assessment bodies are described in parts II.B and II.C of 
this document below.
    The Commission will maintain on its website an up-to-date listing 
of third party conformity assessment bodies whose accreditations it has 
accepted and the scope of each accreditation. Subject to the limited 
provisions for acceptance of ``retrospective'' testing noted in part IV 
below, once the Commission adds a third party conformity assessment 
body to that list, the third party conformity assessment body may 
commence testing children's products to support the manufacturer's 
certification that the product complies with the applicable toy safety 
standards identified earlier in part I of this document.

B. Additional Accreditation Requirements for Firewalled Conformity 
Assessment Bodies

    In addition to the baseline accreditation requirements in part II.A 
of this document above, firewalled conformity assessment bodies seeking 
accredited status must submit to the Commission copies, in English, of 
their training documents, showing how employees are trained to notify 
the Commission immediately and confidentially of any attempt by the 
manufacturer, private labeler, or other interested party to hide or 
exert undue influence over the third party conformity assessment body's 
test results. This additional requirement applies to any third party 
conformity assessment body in which a manufacturer or private labeler 
of a children's product to be tested by the third party conformity 
assessment body owns an interest of 10 percent or more. While the 
Commission is not addressing common parentage of a third party 
conformity assessment body and a children's product manufacturer at 
this time, it will be vigilant to see if this issue needs to be 
addressed in the future.
    As required by section 14(f)(2)(D) of the CPSA, the Commission must 
formally accept, by order, the accreditation application of a third 
party conformity assessment body before the third party conformity 
assessment body can become an accredited firewalled conformity 
assessment body.

C. Additional Accreditation Requirements for Governmental Conformity 
Assessment Bodies

    In addition to the baseline accreditation requirements of part II.A 
of this document above, the CPSIA permits accreditation of a third 
party conformity assessment body owned or controlled, in whole or in 
part, by a government if:
     To the extent practicable, manufacturers or private 
labelers located in any nation are permitted to choose conformity 
assessment bodies that are not owned or controlled by the government of 
that nation;
     The third party conformity assessment body's testing 
results are not subject to undue influence by any other person, 
including another governmental entity;
     The third party conformity assessment body is not accorded 
more favorable treatment than other third party conformity assessment 
bodies in the same nation who have been accredited;
     The third party conformity assessment body's testing 
results are not subject to undue influence by any other person, 
including another governmental entity;
     The third party conformity assessment body is not accorded 
more favorable treatment than other third party conformity assessment 
bodies in the same nation who have been accredited;
     The third party conformity assessment body's testing 
results are accorded no greater weight by other governmental 
authorities than those of other accredited third party conformity 
assessment bodies; and
     The third party conformity assessment body does not 
exercise undue influence over other governmental authorities on matters 
affecting its operations or on decisions by other governmental 
authorities controlling distribution of products based on outcomes of 
the third party conformity assessment body's conformity assessments.
    The Commission will accept the accreditation of a governmental 
third party conformity assessment body if it meets the baseline 
accreditation requirements of part II.A of this document above, and 
meets the additional conditions stated here. To obtain this assurance, 
CPSC staff will engage the governmental entities relevant to the 
accreditation request.

III. How Does a Third Party Conformity Assessment Body Apply for 
Acceptance of Its Accreditation?

    The Commission has established an electronic accreditation 
acceptance and registration system accessed via the Commission's 
Internet site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/labaccred.html. The 
applicant provides, in English, basic identifying information 
concerning its location, the type of accreditation it is seeking, and 
electronic copies of its accreditation certificate and scope statement 
from its ILAC-MRA signatory accreditation body, and firewalled third 
party

[[Page 54222]]

conformity assessment body training document(s), if relevant.
    Commission staff will review the submission for accuracy and 
completeness. In the case of baseline third party conformity assessment 
bodies and government-owned or government-operated conformity 
assessment bodies, when that review and any necessary discussions with 
the applicant are satisfactorily completed, the third party conformity 
assessment body in question is added to the CPSC's list of accredited 
third party conformity assessment bodies at: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/
cpsia/labaccred.html. In the case of a firewalled conformity assessment 
body seeking accredited status, when staff's review is complete, staff 
transmits its recommendation on accreditation to the Commission for 
consideration. (A third party conformity assessment body that may 
ultimately seek acceptance as a firewalled third party conformity 
assessment body also can initially request acceptance as a third party 
conformity assessment body accredited for testing of children's 
products other than those of its owners.) If the Commission accepts a 
staff recommendation to accredit a firewalled conformity assessment 
body, the firewalled conformity assessment body will be added to the 
CPSC's list of accredited third party conformity assessment bodies. In 
each case, the Commission will notify the third party conformity 
assessment body electronically of acceptance of its accreditation. All 
information to support an accreditation acceptance request must be 
provided in the English language.
    Subject to the limited provisions for acceptance of 
``retrospective'' testing noted in part IV of this document below, once 
the Commission adds a third party conformity assessment body to the 
list, the third party conformity assessment body may begin testing 
children's products to support certification of compliance with the 
applicable toy safety standards identified earlier in part I of this 
document for which it has been accredited.

IV. Limited Acceptance of Children's Product Certifications Based on 
Third Party Conformity Assessment Body Testing Prior to the 
Commission's Acceptance of Accreditation

    The Commission will accept a certificate of compliance with the 
applicable sections of Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy 
Safety, F 963-08 and/or section 4.27 (toy chests) from ASTM F 963-07e1 
based on testing performed by an accredited third party conformity 
assessment body (including a government-owned or -controlled conformity 
assessment body, and a firewalled conformity assessment body) before 
the Commission's acceptance of its accreditation if:
     At the time of product testing, the product was tested by 
a third party conformity assessment body that was ISO/IEC 17025 
accredited by an accreditation body that is a signatory to the ILAC-
MRA. For firewalled conformity assessment bodies, the firewalled 
conformity assessment body must be one that the Commission accredited, 
by order, at or before the time the product was tested, even though the 
order will not have included the test methods specified in this notice. 
If the third party conformity assessment body has not been accredited 
by a Commission order as a firewalled conformity assessment body, the 
Commission will not accept a certificate of compliance based on testing 
performed by the third party conformity assessment body before it is 
accredited, by Commission order, as a firewalled conformity assessment 
body;
     The third party conformity assessment body's application 
for testing to the toy standard section(s) under which the test(s) was 
conducted is accepted by the CPSC on or before October 31, 2011;
     With regard to tests conducted under F 963-08, the product 
was tested to the applicable section(s) on or after May 13, 2009; with 
regard to tests conducted under section 4.27 of F 963-07e1, the product 
was tested on or after August 14, 2008;
     The accreditation scope in effect for the third party 
conformity assessment body at the time of testing expressly included 
testing to the toy standard section(s) under which the test(s) was 
conducted;
     The test results show compliance with the applicable 
current toy standards; and
     The third party conformity assessment body's 
accreditation, including inclusion in its scope of the toy standard 
section(s) under which the test(s) was conducted, remains in effect 
through the effective date for mandatory third party testing and 
manufacturer certification for conformity with ASTM F 963-08 and/or 
section 4.27 of ASTM F 963-07e1.

    Dated: July 22, 2011.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2011-22235 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P