[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54754-54762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19464]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1308

[Docket No. CPSC-2016-0017]


Prohibition of Children's Toys and Child Care Articles Containing 
Specified Phthalates: Determinations Regarding Certain Plastics

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission, or CPSC) 
is proposing a rule to determine that certain plastics with specified 
additives would not contain the specified phthalates prohibited in 
children's toys and child care articles. Based on these determinations, 
the specified plastics with specified additives would not require third 
party testing for compliance with the mandatory phthalates prohibitions 
on children's toys and child care articles.

DATES: Submit comments by October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2016-
0017, by any of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. The Commission does not accept 
comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except through 
regulations.gov. The Commission encourages you to submit electronic 
comments by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal, as described above.
    Written Submissions: Submit written comments by mail/hand delivery/
courier 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. All comments received may be posted without change, 
including any personal identifiers, contact information, or other 
personal information provided, to: http://www.regulations.gov. Do not 
submit confidential business information, trade secret information, or 
other sensitive or protected information that you do not want to be 
available to the public. If furnished at all, such information should 
be submitted in writing by mail/hand delivery/courier.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Butturini, Project Manager, 
Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction U.S. Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, 4330 East West Hwy., Room 814, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
301-504-7562: email; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

1. Third Party Testing and Burden Reduction

    Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, (CPSA), as 
amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), 
requires that manufacturers of products subject to a consumer product 
safety rule or similar rule, ban, standard, or regulation enforced by 
the CPSC, must certify that the product complies with all applicable 
CPSC-enforced requirements. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a). For children's products, 
certification must be based on testing conducted by a CPSC-accepted 
third party conformity assessment body. Id. Public Law 112-28 (August 
12, 2011) directed the CPSC to seek comment on ``opportunities to 
reduce the cost of third party testing

[[Page 54755]]

requirements consistent with assuring compliance with any applicable 
consumer product safety rule, ban, standard, or regulation.'' Public 
Law 112-28 also authorized the Commission to issue new or revised third 
party testing regulations if the Commission determines ``that such 
regulations will reduce third party testing costs consistent with 
assuring compliance with the applicable consumer product safety rules, 
bans, standards, and regulations.'' Id. 2063(d)(3)(B).

2. Prohibitions in Section 108 of the CPSIA

    Section 108 of the CPSIA prohibits children's toys and child care 
articles that contain six specified phthalates in concentrations above 
0.1 percent in ``accessible plasticized component parts and other 
component parts made of materials that may contain phthalates.'' The 
prohibited phthalates in section 108 of the CPSIA are listed in Table 
1. Children's toys and child care articles subject to the content 
limits in section 108 of the CPSIA require third party testing for 
compliance with the phthalate content limits before the manufacturer 
can issue a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) and enter the 
children's toys or child care articles into commerce.

               Table 1--Statutorily Prohibited Phthalates
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  Permanent prohibition on phthalates in children's toys and child care
                                articles
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DEHP: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
DBP: dibutyl phthalate
BBP: benzyl butyl phthalate
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   Interim prohibition on phthalates in children's toys and child care
                                articles
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DINP: diisononyl phthalate
DIDP: diisodecyl phthalate
DnOP: di-n-octyl phthalate
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    The CPSIA required the Commission to appoint a Chronic Hazard 
Advisory Panel (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 CHAP issued its report in July 2014.\1\ 
Based on the CHAP report, the Commission published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPR) \2\ proposing to make the interim prohibition on DINP 
in children's toys and child care articles permanent, and proposing to 
lift the interim statutory prohibitions on DIDP and DnOP in children's 
toys and child care articles. In addition, the NPR proposed adding four 
new phthalates to the prohibited list of phthalates that cannot exceed 
0.1 percent concentration in accessible component parts of children's' 
toys and child care articles. Table 2 contains the list of phthalates 
that the NPR proposed to prohibit in children's toys and child care 
articles.
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    \1\ http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/169902/CHAP-REPORT-With-Appendices.pdf.
    \2\ https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/12/30/2014-29967/prohibition-of-childrens-toys-and-child-care-articles-containing-specified-phthalates.

                 Table 2--Proposed Prohibited Phthalates
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                               Phthalates
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DEHP: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
DBP: dibutyl phthalate
BBP: benzyl butyl phthalate
DINP: diisononyl phthalate
DIBP: diisobutyl phthalate
DPENP: di-n-pentyl phthalate
DHEXP: di-n-hexyl phthalate
DCHP: dicyclohexyl phthalate
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B. Contractor's Research on Phthalates in Consumer Products

    CPSC contracted with Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment 
(TERA) to conduct research on phthalates and provide CPSC with two 
research reports on phthalates relevant to this rulemaking. TERA 
conducted a literature search on the production and use of 11 specified 
phthalates in consumer products (Task 11 Report).\3\ The 11 phthalates 
researched by TERA are based on the phthalates assessed by the CHAP and 
the recommendations made in the CHAP report. Additionally, the CPSC 
contracted with TERA to conduct a literature search on whether 
specified plastics could be determined not to contain any of the 11 
phthalates in concentrations above the CPSIA limit of 0.1 percent (Task 
12 Report).\4\
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    \3\ http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Technical-Reports/Other%20Technical%20Reports/TERAReportPhthalates.pdf. The work was conducted as a task order 
(Task 11) under CPSC contract CPSC-D-12-0001.
    \4\ http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Technical-Reports/Other%20Technical%20Reports/ReportonPhthalatesinFourPlastics.pdf. The work was conducted as a 
task order (Task 12) under CPSC contract CPSC-D-12-0001.
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    TERA used a tiered literature research approach to identify sources 
for review from among the ``universe'' of available data. The tiers 
were used to provide a structured search method to locate relevant 
sources and eliminate unrelated material. TERA used books, factsheets, 
journal articles, patents, and other sources as primary and secondary 
literature sources. The use of this tiered approach resulted in a 
comprehensive review of the available literature that is representative 
of the information available on the potential for the presence of any 
of the 11 phthalates in the 4 specified plastics.
    TERA screened over 119,800 studies identified by the above 
described tiered search method for relevance to the 11 phthalates and 4 
plastics. CPSC staff reviewed the information provided in the 
contractor report and formulated recommendations for Commission 
consideration based on TERA's research.
    The plastics researched by TERA were:
     Polypropylene (PP);
     Polyethylene (PE);
     High-impact polystyrene (HIPS); and
     Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
    TERA's research included the following factors:
     The raw materials used in the production of the specified 
plastics;
     The manufacturing processes used worldwide to produce the 
plastics;
     Typical applications for the specified plastics in 
consumer products, especially toys and child care articles, focusing on 
circumstances where the plastic could contain phthalates at 
concentrations greater than 0.1 percent;
     The potential use of recycled materials containing the 
specified phthalates in the production of the plastics; and
     The potential for phthalate contamination during 
packaging, storage, use, or other factors.

C. CPSC Staff Analysis

1. Polypropylene (PP)

    TERA's research indicated the production of PP plastic uses a PP 
monomer, ethylene, and other monomers, a hydrocarbon solvent, 
catalysts, nucleating agents or fillers, and a number of other 
additives, depending on the type of PP and other manufacturing 
considerations. Additives can be included in PP to achieve various 
chemical and mechanical characteristics. PP can include the following 
additives:
     Hydrocarbon solvents: Examples of solvents used are hexane 
and heptane;

[[Page 54756]]

     Catalysts: \5\ Catalysts used in producing PP are the 
Ziegler-Natta catalysts; \6\
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    \5\ The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a ``catalyst'' 
as ``a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction 
without itself being affected.'' A catalyst is not consumed, 
altered, or incorporated into one of the reaction's products.
    \6\ A Ziegler-Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and 
Giulio Natta, is a class of catalyst used in the production of some 
plastics.
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     Fillers: Fillers are added to plastics to enhance their 
performance (e.g., impact resistance, shrink resistance), and reduce 
manufacturing costs. Examples of fillers used in PP include talc, 
calcium carbonate, and fiberglass;
     Primary antioxidants: Antioxidants inhibit oxidative 
deterioration of a material. Primary antioxidants donate hydrogen atoms 
to prevent free radical creation. Examples of primary antioxidants 
include hindered phenol, such as butylated hydroxytoluene, and hindered 
amine light stabilizers;
     Secondary antioxidants: Secondary antioxidants prevent 
degradation by breaking down free radicals and hydroperoxides, and 
synergize with the primary antioxidants. Examples of secondary 
antioxidants include phosphites and thioesters;
     Neutralizing agents: Neutralizing agents adjust the 
acidity of the chemicals during production, and can include calcium and 
zinc stearate, zeolites, calcium and zinc oxides, and metallic salts of 
lactic or benzoic acid;
     Antistatic agents: Antistatic agents reduce the buildup of 
static electricity, and can include cationic compounds, anionic 
compounds, and nonionic compounds;
     Slip agents: Slip agents are added to reduce a plastic 
surface's coefficient of friction. Examples of slip agents include 
modified fatty acids or fatty amides;
     Metal deactivators: Transition metals like copper and iron 
can accelerate plastic degradation. Metal deactivators, such as N,N'-
dibenzaloxaldihydrazide, combine with the metal ions and prevent 
catalytic degradation of the plastic;
     Quenchers: Quenchers scavenge stray free radicals and 
decompose unwanted peroxides. Examples of quenchers are organic nickel 
complexes, nickel salts of thiocarbamate, and nickel complexes with 
alkylated phenol phosphonates;
     UV stabilizers: Ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers are added to 
PP to protect the plastic from degradation in sunlight. Examples of UV 
stabilizers are hindered amine light stabilizers, carbon black, 
titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, derivatives of benzophenone, 
benzotriazoles, phenyl, aryl, or acrylic esters, formamidines, and 
oxanilides;
     Nucleating agents: Nucleating agents are additives that 
increase the crystallization of a plastic from a liquid solution. 
Examples of nucleating agents for PP include carboxylic acids, benzyl 
sorbitols, and salts of organic phosphates;
     Flame retardants: Examples of flame retardants include 
brominated flame retardants, cycloaliphatic chlorines; antimony 
trioxide, ferric oxide, zinc oxide, zinc borate, barium metaborates; 
phosphorus flame retardants, magnesium hydroxide, and aluminum 
hydroxide;
     Blowing or foaming agents: Blowing and foaming agents 
create gas bubbles during molding, resulting in a foamed plastic. 
Examples of blowing and foaming agents include sodium bicarbonate, 
sodium borohydride, polycarbonic acid, citric acid, 
4,4'oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), azodicarbonamide, or para-
toluenesulfonyl semicarbazide;
     Antiblocking agents: Antiblocking agents are used to 
prevent plastic films from sticking together through cold flow or 
static electricity. Examples of antiblocking agents include natural and 
manufactured waxes, metallic salts of fatty acids, silica compounds, 
and some polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polyamides, polyethylene, 
polysiloxanes, and fluoroplastics);
     Lubricants: Lubricants are used in PP (and other plastics) 
to lower the molten material's coefficient of viscosity and prevent the 
plastic from sticking to metal surfaces. The lubricants allow the 
plastic's hydrocarbon chains to slip past each other in the melt. 
Examples of lubricants include metal soaps, hydrocarbon waxes, 
polyethenes, amide waxes, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols, (e.g., 
calcium or zinc stearates); or
     Colorants: Colorants for plastics typically consist of 
dyes, in which the color-producing material is dissolved in a carrier 
medium, and pigments, in which very small particles of the color-
producing material are suspended in the carrier medium. Examples of 
colorants used in PP include heavy metal-based oxides, sulfides, 
chromates, and other complexes, including cadmium, zinc, titanium, 
lead, molybdenum; and ultramines (sulfide-silicate complexes containing 
sodium and aluminum; azo pigments).
    The research showed that among all of these raw materials and 
additives, only Ziegler-Natta catalysts may contain one or more of the 
prohibited phthalates. Ziegler-Natta catalysts are generally titanium-
based catalyst systems in combination with an organoaluminum co-
catalyst, and an internal donor (a molecule that contributes an 
electron to the chemical reaction), such as DBP, DIBP or DEHP. As 
described in the Task 12 Report, these catalysts may survive the 
plastic's polymerization process, and the phthalates may be present in 
the final plastic pellets, theoretically at concentrations of about 1 
mg/kg (1 part per million, ``ppm''). The Task 12 Report references an 
industry analysis in the context of European regulations that indicates 
that phthalate concentrations in PP do not exceed 0.15 mg/kg (0.15 ppm) 
and are often below the measurement threshold of the analytical method 
of 0.01 mg/kg (0.01 ppm).

2. Polyethylene (PE)

    TERA's research indicated that PE is manufactured using PE monomers 
or certain copolymers or other monomers, and a number of additives. 
Additives can be included in PE to achieve various chemical and 
mechanical characteristics. PE can include the following additives:
     Plasticizers: \7\ Examples of plasticizers for PE include 
glyceryl tribenzoate, polyethylene glycol, sunflower oil, paraffin wax, 
paraffin oil, mineral oil, glycerin, EPDM rubber, EVA polymer, DOP; \8\
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    \7\ The Task 12 Report indicated that several prohibited 
phthalates are used as plasticizers in PE. CPSC staff reviewed the 
report's references for this information. As cited in the Task 12 
Report, Bhunia et al. (2013) reported several phthalates used in 
food packaging plastic films, including PE, referencing Sablani and 
Rahman (2007). In the latter reference, staff did not find any 
support for the claimed uses of phthalates. In fact, in the section 
on plasticizers, Sablani and Rahman (2007) stated that most 
plasticizers are used in PVC and that as a result of studies on 
migration of plasticizers from food packaging, ``. . . industry has 
replaced PVC with other polymers, such as PE or regenerated 
cellulose not associated with plasticizers.'' (emphasis added)
    \8\ The isomer of DOP was not specified. DOP can include DEHP.
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     Initiators: Initiators help form the plastic 
macromolecules from the solution. Examples of PE initiators are benzoyl 
peroxide, azodi-isobutyronitrile, and oxygen;
     Promoters: Promoters in PE improve paint adhesion and 
resistance to some solvents. PE promoters include sodium and calcium 
(in metal or hydride form);
     Catalysts: Catalysts for PE include the Ziegler-Natta 
catalysts, and metallocene catalysts (e.g., zirconium, titanium);
     Fillers: silane and titanate coupling agents are used as 
fillers in PE;
     Antistatic agents: PE antistatic agents include 
polyethylene glycol alkyl esters;

[[Page 54757]]

     Flame retardants: PE flame retardants include antimony 
trioxide, and halogenated substances;
     Anti-blocking agents: Fine silicas are an example of a PE 
antiblocking agent;
     Slip agents: PE slip agents include fatty acid amides such 
as oleamide and erucamide;
     Blowing agents: PE blowing agents include 4,4'-
oxybisbenzenesulfono- hydrazine and azocarbonamide;
     Cross-linking agents: Cross-linking agents set up chemical 
bonds between the plastic macromolecules and assists in ``curing'' the 
plastic. Examples of cross-linking agents include dicumyl peroxide, and 
vinyl silanes;
     Antioxidants: PE antioxidants include 4-methyl-2,6-t-butyl 
phenol, 1,1,3-tris-(4-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-butylphenyl)butane, bis-[2-
hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(1-methylcyclohexyl)phenyl]- methane, and dilauryl-
[beta],[beta]'-thiodipropionate;
     Carbon black; or
     Colorants: PE colorants are often based on cobalt, 
cadmium, and manganese.
    As with PP, PE catalysts include an internal donor, such as DBP, 
DIBP, or DEHP, although the phthalate concentration in the final 
plastic is generally well below 0.15 mg/kg (0.15 ppm).
    One reference in the Task 12 report indicated that DOP can be used 
as a plasticizer in PE. Staff reviewed the cited references, as well as 
citations within the references, and found that uses of DOP in PE are 
mentioned in patents for specialized materials with no known current 
consumer product application, or may be used in materials, such as 
pavement marking, which are not children's products. One cited patent 
described use of phthalates in a PE microporous film used as an 
internal separator for lithium ion batteries.
    The Task 12 Report cited a patent for a material made with PE 
plastic and DBP for use as a surface for outdoor athletic track, 
basketball, volleyball, and playgrounds. CPSC staff found no 
information indicating that such a product has been manufactured and 
marketed for consumer use. Furthermore, the applications for the 
material do not include children's toys or child care articles that are 
subject to the phthalate content restrictions.

3. High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

    TERA's research indicated that HIPS is a plastic blend generally 
produced from styrene, polybutadiene rubber, benzene, and a number of 
other substances. Additives can be included in HIPS to achieve various 
chemical and mechanical characteristics. HIPS can include the following 
additives:
     Catalysts: The Ziegler-Natta catalysts;
     Internal lubricant: Zinc stearate is a lubricant for HIPS;
     Chain transfer/transition agent: Chain transfer/transition 
agents regulate the length of the HIPS macromolecules. HIPS chain 
transfer/transition agents include tertdocecylmercaptan and liquid 
paraffin;
     Stabilizer: Tert-butylcatechol is a stabilizer for HIPS;
     Diluents: Diluents are used to reduce the concentration of 
a plastic as a means to reduce the plastic's viscosity and to modify 
its processing conditions. Examples of HIPS diluents include 
ethylbenzene, and toluene; or
     Colorants: HIPS colorants include azo dyes, anthraquinone 
dyes, perinone dyes, or xanthene dyes.
     Other additives: Additional materials used in the 
manufacture of HIPS include:
    [cir] Aluminum chloride, ethyl chloride, hydrochloric acid;
    [cir] Iron oxide, potassium oxide, chromium oxide; and
    [cir] Bifunctional peroxides.
    As with PP and PE, the polybutadiene used in HIPS production is 
made with the use of catalysts that include an internal donor, such as 
DBP, DIBP, or DEHP. Although no testing for phthalate content was 
located, because the use of phthalate in HIPS is as a catalyst, the 
concentration in the final product is expected to be well below 0.1 
percent.

4. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

    TERA's research indicated that ABS plastic is manufactured with 
specific monomers, such as acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene, 
trans-1,4-butadiene, cis-1,4-butadiene, and 1,2-butadiene. Additives 
are included in ABS to achieve various chemical and mechanical 
characteristics. ABS can include the following additives:
     Plasticizers: ABS plasticizers include hydrocarbon 
processing oil, triphenyl phosphate, resorcinol bis(diphenyl 
phosphate), oligomeric phosphate, long chain fatty acid esters, and 
aromatic sulfonamide;
     Hydrocarbon solvents: hexane, heptane, and ethyl benzene;
     Stabilizers against heat or light degradation: Stabilizer 
examples include phenolic antioxidants, thiol-containing antioxidants, 
phosphites, thioesters, substituted benzophenones and benzotriazoles, 
and hindered amines;
     Lubricants: ABS lubricants include metallic stearates, 
montan waxes or amide waxes; \9\
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    \9\ The TERA Task 12 Report did not specify ABS lubricants. CPSC 
staff supplemented the Task 12 Report with additional research.
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     Antioxidants: Phenolic-based or phosphate-based 
antioxidants are used in the manufacture of ABS;
     Molecular weight regulator: An example of an ABS 
molecular-weight regulator is tert-dodecyl mercaptan;
     Initiators/catalysts: ABS initiators and catalysts include 
potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate, oil-soluble initiators in a 
redox system (cumene hydroperoxide, sodium pyrophosphate, dextrose, and 
iron (II) sulfate);
     Activators: Activators prepare the ABS surface for 
electroplating. The activators in ABS are often palladium and tin salts 
in an acid solution; \10\
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    \10\ The TERA Task 12 Report did not specify ABS activators. 
CPSC staff supplemented the Task 12 Report with additional research.
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     Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers are chemicals that promote the 
mixing of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials. ABS emulsifiers 
include salts of rosin, fatty sodium lauryl sulfate, and oleate;
     Colorants: ABS colorants include phthalocyanines, 
perylenes, cromophtals, titanium dioxide, carbon black, black iron 
oxide, ultramarine blue, red iron oxide, and aluminum flake.\11\
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    \11\ The TERA Task 12 Report did not specify ABS colorants. CPSC 
staff supplemented the Task 12 Report with additional research.
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5. Additional CPSC Staff Research

    TERA's research did not include an examination of the colorants in 
polyethylene, high-impact polystyrene, or acrylonitrile butadiene 
styrene. TERA's research also did not include an examination of the 
lubricants, activators, and antioxidants that could be used in the 
production of ABS. CPSC staff conducted additional research into these 
component parts of the plastics.

6. Potential Phthalate Use in the Four Plastics

    The Task 11 Report indicates that phthalates are used generally as 
plasticizers or softeners of certain plastics, primarily polyvinyl 
chloride (PVC), as solvents, and as components of inks, paints, 
adhesives, and sealants. Except for the general category of inks and 
colorants, the Task 11 Report did not indicate uses of the prohibited 
phthalates in any of the four plastics, in the raw materials, or in the 
types of additives that might be used in the four plastics.
    The four plastics may also be used as ingredients in a variety of 
materials. For

[[Page 54758]]

example, PP may be used in formulations for concrete, paints, and 
lubricating grease. These materials would not be considered to be PP 
plastic. PE, HIPS, ABS also may be used as additives in materials that 
would not be considered plastics.
    The TERA Task 11 and Task 12 Reports indicate that the phthalates 
researched are not associated with the chemistry and applications of 
the plastics PP, PE, HIPS, or ABS. When these plastics are plasticized, 
materials other than the phthalates are used as plasticizers (e.g., 
hydrocarbon processing oil, phosphate esters, long chain fatty acid 
esters, and aromatic sulfonamide for ABS). TERA found one reference in 
which DnOP (also referred to as DOP) was used as a plasticizer for PE. 
However, the only application cited was a patent for a microporous 
plastic film used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. TERA's 
research included references prior to and after the enactment of the 
CPSIA, none of which indicated any phthalate use in the four plastics.

7. Studies Where Phthalates Were Detected

    TERA's investigation of the uses of the four plastics shows that 
all four are used to make plastic consumer products and component 
parts. None of these applications specifically includes phthalates, 
although a few studies of the phthalate content of products were 
located.
    Several studies evaluated food, beverage, and cosmetics packaging 
made with PP, PE, and polystyrene (PS). These studies generally 
measured migration of specified chemicals, including phthalates, from 
products purchased in retail stores. The references provided few or no 
details about all the materials used in the products, including whether 
other plastics were present, whether other component parts were present 
such as coatings, finishes, inks, or adhesives, or whether residues of 
the contained products were present.
    The Task 12 Report also cited a Korean study of various products 
that reported low levels of phthalates in a toy car made with ABS. The 
study provided no details about other materials used in the product, 
including whether other plastics were present, or whether other 
component parts were present such as coatings, finishes, inks, or 
adhesives.
    The Task 12 Report's detailed description of the raw materials and 
manufacturing processes for PP, PE, HIPS, and ABS plastics showed that 
phthalates are not present after these plastics are produced. However, 
the Task 11 Report describes uses of phthalates in materials on these 
plastics, such as coatings, inks, and adhesives. Because consumer 
products purchased in stores likely consist of a number of different 
component parts, some of which may have contained phthalates, the 
studies described above should not be considered to be evidence that 
phthalates were used in the manufacture of the PP, PE, HIPS, or ABS 
plastic component parts of consumer products subject to the phthalate 
content restrictions.

8. Phthalates in Recycled Materials

    All four plastics may be recycled and reprocessed into new 
products. However, degradation of the original plastics during the 
recycling process and mixing with other plastics or materials in the 
recycling steam can reduce the quality of the recovered plastic and 
limit further commercial uses. In some cases, recovered plastics are 
mixed with virgin plastics to improve the products' quality and 
utility. The Task 12 Report indicated that few studies were located for 
analysis of phthalates in recycled plastics. One study found no 
phthalates in recycled PP carpet. Two studies analyzed solid waste 
consisting of PP or PE. One study reported detection of phthalates in 
recovered waste PP and PE material, but not in samples of virgin PP or 
PE plastic. The other study reported phthalates in recovered PE. The 
authors of the latter study suggested that the source of phthalates 
could have been the products that had been in contact with the plastic.
    HIPS and ABS are generally used as rigid materials; available 
information does not indicate use of phthalates in such materials or 
associated with recycled HIPS or ABS.
    Some studies indicated the potential for low, but detectable, 
levels of phthalates in plastics, such as PP or PE packaging that 
contained or had been in contact with a phthalate-containing product. 
Products made with such materials could contain residual phthalates, 
although at levels well below the maximum allowed concentration in 
children's products.\12\
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    \12\ The highest level recorded by Huber and Franz was 200 ppm 
for one sample of DBP. The other samples' concentrations ranged from 
3.1 to 96.3 ppm.
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9. Staff Conclusions Based on TERA Research

    With the exception of the catalysts for polymerization, and 
certain, specific uses of phthalates in products without consumer 
product applications, neither of the TERA task reports, nor research by 
CPSC staff found that phthalates are used as a component part of the 
four plastics. In the case of the phthalate catalysts used in plastics 
manufacturing, the phthalate concentration in finished plastics is 
significantly below the maximum allowable concentration.
    The two TERA task reports and CPSC staff research show that very 
little information exists that indicates that manufactured PP, PE, 
HIPS, and ABS plastics could contain the researched phthalates. The 
research located references, including patents, for uncommon and 
specialized products, and products that generally do not have 
applications to children's toys and child care articles.
    Staff found no evidence that phthalates are present at 
concentrations above 0.1 percent in any of the four plastics (either 
virgin or using recycled material) for consumer products, especially 
children's products.

D. Determinations for Specified Plastics

1. Legal Requirements for a Determination

    As noted above, section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA requires third party 
testing for children's products that are subject to a children's 
product safety rule. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(2). Children's toys and child 
care articles must comply with the phthalates prohibitions in section 
108 of the CPSIA. 15 U.S.C. 2057c. In response to statutory direction, 
the Commission has investigated approaches that would reduce the burden 
of third party testing while also assuring compliance with CPSC 
requirements. As part of that endeavor, the Commission has considered 
whether certain materials used in children's toys and child care 
articles would not require third party testing.
    To issue a determination that a plastic (including specified 
additives) does not require third party testing, the Commission must 
have sufficient evidence to conclude that the plastic and specified 
additives would consistently comply with the CPSC requirement to which 
the plastic (and specified additives) is subject so that third party 
testing is unnecessary to provide a high degree of assurance of 
compliance. Under 16 CFR part 1107 section 1107.2, ``a high degree of 
assurance'' is defined as ``an evidence-based demonstration of 
consistent performance of a product regarding compliance based on 
knowledge of a product and its manufacture.''
    For a material determination, a high degree of assurance of 
compliance means that the material will comply

[[Page 54759]]

with the specified chemical limits due to the nature of the material or 
due to a processing technique that reduces the chemical concentration 
below its limit. For materials determined to comply with a chemical 
limit, the material must continue to comply with that limit if it is 
used in a children's product subject to that requirement. A material on 
which a determination has been made cannot be altered or adulterated to 
render it noncompliant and then used in a children's product.
    Phthalates are not naturally occurring materials, but are 
intentionally created and used in specific applications (e.g., 
plastics, surface coatings, solvents, inks, adhesives, and some 
rubberized materials). One application of phthalates in children's toys 
and child care articles is as a plasticizer, or softener for plastic 
component parts.\13\ The addition of a plasticizer converts an 
otherwise rigid plastic into a more flexible form, such as in a child's 
rubber duck or a soft plastic doll. Because plastics can contain the 
prohibited phthalates, third party testing is required before a CPC can 
be issued for children's toys and child care articles with accessible 
plastic component parts. However, some specific plastics with certain 
additives might not use any of the prohibited phthalates as a 
plasticizer, or for any other purpose. For these specific plastics and 
accompanying additives, compliance with the requirements of section 108 
of the CPSIA can be assured without requiring third party testing. As a 
means to reduce the third party testing burden on children's product 
certifiers while continuing to ensure compliance, the CPSC is proposing 
to make determinations that specified plastics with certain additives 
comply with the phthalate content requirements of section 108 of the 
CPSIA based on evidence indicating that such materials will not contain 
the prohibited phthalates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a plasticizer 
as ``a chemical added especially to rubbers and resins to impart 
flexibility, workability, or stretchability.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on the discussion in section C of this preamble, the 
Commission proposes to determine that the specified four plastics and 
accompanying additives would comply with the phthalates prohibitions 
with a high degree of assurance. These determinations mean that third 
party testing for compliance with the phthalates prohibitions is not 
required for certification purposes for the specified four plastics. 
The Commission proposes to make these determinations to reduce the 
third party testing burden on children's product certifiers while 
continuing to assure compliance.

2. Statutory Authority

    Section 3 of the CPSIA grants the Commission general rulemaking 
authority to issue regulations, as necessary, to implement the CPSIA. 
Public Law 110-314, sec. 3, Aug. 14, 2008. As noted previously, section 
14 of the CPSA, which was amended by the CPSIA, requires third party 
testing for children's products subject to a children's product safety 
rule. 15 U.S.C. 2063(a)(2). Section 14(d)(3)(B) of the CPSA, as amended 
by Public Law 112-28, gives the Commission the authority to ``prescribe 
new or revised third party testing regulations if it determines that 
such regulations will reduce third party testing costs consistent with 
assuring compliance with the applicable consumer product safety rules, 
bans, standards, and regulations.'' Id. 2063(d)(3)(B). These statutory 
provisions authorize the Commission to issue a rule determining that 
specified plastics and additives will not exceed the phthalates 
prohibitions of section 108 of the CPSIA, and therefore, specified 
plastics do not require third party conformity assessment body testing 
to assure compliance with the phthalates limits in section 108 of the 
CPSIA.
    The proposed determinations would relieve the four specified 
plastics and accompanying additives from the third party testing 
requirement of section 14 of the CPSA for purposes of supporting the 
required certification. However, the proposed determinations would not 
be applicable to any other plastic or additives beyond those listed in 
the proposed rule.
    The proposed determinations would only relieve the manufacturers' 
obligation to have the specified plastics and accompanying additives 
tested by a CPSC accepted third party conformity assessment body. 
Children's toys and child care articles must still comply with the 
substantive phthalates content limits in section 108 of the CPSIA 
regardless of any relief on third party testing requirements.

3. Description of the Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule would create a new Part 1308 for ``Prohibition 
of Children's Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified 
Phthalates: Determinations Regarding Certain Plastics.'' The proposed 
rule would determine that the specified four plastics and accompanying 
additives do not contain the statutorily prohibited phthalates (DEHP, 
DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DnOP) in concentrations above 0.1 percent, and 
thus, are not required to be third party tested to assure compliance 
with section 108 of the CPSIA. As discussed in section A.2 of the 
preamble, the agency is currently involved in rulemaking to determine 
whether to continue the interim prohibitions in section 108 and whether 
to prohibit any other children's products containing any other 
phthalates. TERA's examination covered all phthalates that are subject 
to the current permanent and interim prohibitions, as well as the 
additional phthalates the Commission proposed restricting in the 
phthalates proposed rule. If the Commission issues a final rule in the 
phthalates rulemaking before finalizing this determinations rulemaking, 
the Commission would modify the determinations proposed rule so that 
the determinations rule covers the same phthalates restricted by the 
final phthalates rule.
    Section 1308.1 of the proposed rule explains the statutorily-
created requirements for children's toys and child care articles under 
section 108 of the CPSIA and the third party testing requirements for 
children's products.
    Section 1308.2(a) of the proposed rule would establish the 
Commission's determinations that the following plastics do not exceed 
the phthalates content limits with a high degree of assurance as that 
term is defined in 16 CFR part 1107:
     Polypropylene, with any of the following additives:
    [cir] the plasticizers polybutenes, dioctyl sebacate, paraffinic 
oil, isooctyl tallate, mineral plasticizing oils, and polyol;
    [cir] hydrocarbon solvents;
    [cir] catalysts;
    [cir] fillers;
    [cir] nucleating agents;
    [cir] primary and secondary antioxidants;
    [cir] neutralizing agents;
    [cir] antistatic agents;
    [cir] slip agents;
    [cir] metal deactivators;
    [cir] quenchers;
    [cir] UV stabilizers;
    [cir] flame retardants;
    [cir] blowing or foaming agents;
    [cir] antiblocking agents;
    [cir] lubricants; or
    [cir] colorants.
     Polyethylene, with any of the following additives:
    [cir] the plasticizers glyceryl tribenzoate, polyethylene glycol, 
sunflower oil, paraffin wax, paraffin oil, mineral oil, glycerin, EPDM 
rubber, and EVA polymer;
    [cir] catalysts;

[[Page 54760]]

    [cir] initiators;
    [cir] promoters;
    [cir] antistatic agents;
    [cir] fillers;
    [cir] flame retardants;
    [cir] anti-blocking agents;
    [cir] slip agents;
    [cir] blowing agents;
    [cir] cross-linking agents;
    [cir] antioxidants;
    [cir] carbon black; or
    [cir] colorants.
     High-impact polystyrene, with any of the following 
additives:
    [cir] catalysts;
    [cir] internal lubricants;
    [cir] chain transfer/transition agents;
    [cir] stabilizers;
    [cir] diluents;
    [cir] colorants;
    [cir] aluminum chloride, ethyl chloride, hydrochloric acid;
    [cir] iron oxide, potassium oxide, chromium oxide; or
    [cir] bifunctional peroxides.
     Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, with any of the following 
additives:
    [cir] the plasticizers phosphate esters, long chain fatty acid 
esters and aromatic sulfonamide;
    [cir] hydrocarbon solvents;
    [cir] stabilizers;
    [cir] lubricants;
    [cir] antioxidants;
    [cir] molecular weight regulators;
    [cir] initiators/catalysts,
    [cir] activators;
    [cir] emulsifiers; or
    [cir] colorants.
    Section C.2 of the preamble provides a more detailed discussion of 
the additives for each of the four plastics with the specified 
additives including definitions of the additives and various examples 
of the types of additives.
    Section 1308.2(b) of the proposed rule states that accessible 
component parts of children's toys and child care articles made with 
the specified plastics, and specified additives listed in paragraph (a) 
of that section, are not required to be third party tested pursuant to 
section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA and 16 CFR part 1107. Proposed Sec.  
1308.2(b) is included in the rule to make clear that when the listed 
plastics and accompanying additives are used in children's toys and 
child care articles, manufacturers and importers are not required to 
conduct the third party testing required in section 14(a)(2) of the 
CPSA and 16 CFR part 1107. Section 1308.2(c) of the proposed rule 
states that accessible component parts of children's toys and child 
care articles made with a plastic or additives not listed in paragraph 
(a) of this section are required to be third party tested pursuant to 
section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA and 16 CFR part 1107. Proposed Sec.  
1308.2(c) is intended to make clear that if a manufacturer or importer 
uses any other plastic or additive in a children's toy or child care 
article not listed in proposed Sec.  1308.1(a), that children's toy or 
child care article must be third party tested pursuant to section 
14(a)(2) of the CPSA and 16 CFR part 1107. Finally, the determinations 
in proposed Sec.  1308.2(a) would only remove the obligation to have 
children's toys and child care articles tested by a third party 
conformity assessment body. Regardless of any third party testing 
relief that the proposed rule would provide, the manufacturer or 
importer must still comply with the underlying phthalates content 
prohibitions in section 108 of the CPSIA.

E. Effective Date

    The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) generally requires that a 
substantive rule must be published not less than 30 days before its 
effective date. 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). Because the proposed rule would 
provide relief from existing testing requirements under the CPSIA, the 
Commission proposes a 30 day effective date for the final rule.

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act

1. Introduction

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that agencies review 
a proposed rule for the rule's potential economic impact on small 
entities, including small businesses. Section 603 of the RFA generally 
requires that agencies prepare an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis (IRFA) and make the analysis available to the public for 
comment when the agency is required to publish a notice of proposed 
rulemaking, unless the agency certifies that the NPR will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The IRFA must describe the impact of the proposed rule on small 
entities and identify any alternatives which accomplish the statutory 
objectives and may reduce the significant economic impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities. Specifically, the IRFA must contain:
     A description of the reasons why action by the agency is 
being considered;
     a succinct statement of the objectives of, and legal basis 
for, the proposed rule;
     a description of, and where feasible, an estimate of the 
number of small entities to which the proposed rule will apply;
     a description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping, 
and other compliance requirements of the proposed rule, including an 
estimate of the classes of small entities subject to the requirements 
and the types of professional skills necessary for the preparation of 
reports or records; and
     an identification, to the extent possible, of all relevant 
federal rules which may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed rule.

2. Reason for Agency Action and Legal Basis for the Proposed Rule

    The Commission is proposing this NPR to reduce the burden of third 
party testing on toy and child care article manufacturers, especially 
the burden on those that are small entities. Based on an extensive 
literature review seeking information on the raw materials used in the 
manufacture of the specified plastics, the worldwide manufacturing 
practices of the plastics, the typical applications, and the potential 
for exposure to the specified phthalates through the use of recycled 
materials or due to contamination, the Commission concludes that there 
is a high degree of assurance that polypropylene, polyethylene, high 
impact polystyrene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with the 
accompanying additives in the proposed rule will not contain any of the 
prohibited phthalates in concentrations above 0.1 percent when used in 
children's toys and child care articles. Therefore, third party testing 
is not necessary to assure that children's toys and child care articles 
with accessible component parts made from these plastics and 
accompanying additives do not contain the prohibited phthalates.

3. Small Entities To Which the Proposed Rule Would Apply

    The proposed rule would apply to small entities that manufacture or 
import children's toys or child care articles that contain accessible 
polyethylene, polypropylene, high impact polystyrene, or acrylonitrile 
butadiene styrene and any accompanying additives in component parts. 
Toy manufacturers are classified in North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) category 33993 (``Doll, Toy, and Game 
Manufacturing''). According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, in 2012 
there were 559 toy manufacturers in the United States, of which 552 had 
fewer than 500 employees and would be considered small entities 
according to the Small Business Administration (SBA) criteria.\14\ Of 
the small

[[Page 54761]]

manufacturers, 326 had fewer than five employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 2012 County Business Patterns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Toy importers may be either wholesale merchants or retailers. The 
proposed rule would not apply to toy wholesalers or retailers if they 
obtain their merchandise from domestic manufacturers or importers. Toy 
wholesalers are classified in NAICS category 42392 (``Toy and Hobby 
Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers''). According to the U.S. 
Bureau of the Census, there were 2,096 firms in this category.\15\ Of 
these, 2,021 had fewer than 100 employees and would be considered small 
businesses according to SBA criteria. Toy retailers are classified in 
NAICS category 45112 (``Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores''). There could be 
about 5,800 toy retailers that would meet the SBA criteria to be 
considered a small entity.\16\ The number of these small toy retailers 
that import toys, as opposed to obtaining their product from domestic 
sources is not known.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 2012 County Business Patterns.
    \16\ The SBA considers a toy retailer (NAICS 45112) to be a 
small entity if its annual sales are less than $27.5 million. 
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, in 2007, the average 
receipts for toy manufacturers with more than 500 employees was 
almost $500 million. The average receipts for the next largest 
category for which summary data was published, toy retailers with at 
least 100 but fewer than 500 employees were about $12 million. There 
were 5,864 firms in this NAICS category, of which 5,839 had fewer 
than 500 employees. (U.S. Census Bureau, Number of Firms, Number of 
Establishments, Employment, Annual Payroll, and Estimated Receipts 
by Enterprise Employment Size for the United States, All Industries: 
2007.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The phthalate regulations also apply to manufacturers and importers 
of child care articles. Child care articles include many types of 
products for which the CPSC has recently promulgated or proposed new or 
amended mandatory safety standards. These include toddler beds, full 
size and non-full size cribs, bassinets and cradles, bedside sleepers, 
high chairs, hook-on-chairs, and booster seats. Other child care 
articles include sleepwear, and crib or cradle bumpers. In its ongoing 
market research, CPSC staff has identified 364 suppliers of these 
products that would be considered small according to criteria 
established by the SBA. Additionally, there could be other child care 
articles, not listed above, for which CPSC has not yet developed a 
mandatory or proposed standard, but which nevertheless are covered by 
the phthalate requirements.
    Child care articles would also include products such as teethers 
(if they are not medical devices), pacifiers, and bottle nipples. 
Manufacturers of these products are classified in NAICS category 326299 
(``All other rubber product manufacturing''). There are 617 firms 
classified in this NAICS code of which 573 are considered to be 
small.\17\ However, this NAICS category includes many other products 
and most of these firms probably do not manufacture child care 
articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ U.S. Bureau of the Census, ``Number of Firms, Number of 
Establishments, Employment, and Annual Payroll by Enterprise 
Employment Size for the United States, All Industries: 2011,'' 2011 
County Business Patterns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although, as discussed above, the number of small companies that 
supply children's toys or child care articles to the U.S. market might 
be close to 10,000, the number that actually supply products with 
accessible polyethylene, polypropylene, high impact polystyrene, or 
acrylonitrile, butadiene styrene component parts is not known. Also not 
known is the number of children's toys and child care articles that 
contain these plastics. To develop comprehensive estimates of the 
number of products that contain these plastics and the number of firms 
that supply the products it would probably be necessary to survey a 
representative sample of toy and child care article suppliers to 
solicit information on their use of the four plastics or to collect a 
representative sample of children's toys and child care articles and 
analyze the accessible components to determine which ones contained one 
or more of the four plastics.
    Although comprehensive estimates of the number of children's toys 
and child care articles that contain components made from the four 
plastics are not available, there is some evidence that these plastics 
are extensively used in children's toys. One source stated that 
polypropylene and high density polyethylene are used in 38 and 25 
percent, respectively, of injection molded toys. Low density 
polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, are each used in less 
than 10 percent of the injection molded toys. Polystyrene may also be 
used in injection molded toys, but the source does not specify the 
proportion that is high impact polystyrene.\18\ The Commission requests 
comments to better determine the impact the proposed determinations 
would have on small entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Donald V. Rosato, Plastics End Use Applications, Springer, 
New York, (2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements and 
Impact on Small Businesses

    The proposed rule would determine that there is a high degree of 
assurance that four specific plastics with any of the accompanying 
additives will not contain any prohibited phthalates at concentrations 
above 0.1 percent prohibition level. As a result of the proposed 
determinations, manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of 
children's toys and child care articles that have accessible components 
that consist of these plastics and any accompanying additives will not 
have to obtain third party tests to certify that the accessible 
components do not contain the prohibited phthalates in concentrations 
above 0.1 percent.
    The proposed rule would not impose any additional reporting, 
recordkeeping, or other compliance requirements on small entities. In 
fact, because the proposed rule would eliminate a testing requirement, 
there would be a small reduction in some of the recordkeeping burden 
under 16 CFR part 1107 and 16 CFR part 1109 because manufacturers would 
no longer have to maintain records of third party phthalate tests for 
the component parts manufactured from these four plastics.
    A determination that specified plastics with accompanying additives 
used in children's toys and child care articles do not require third 
party testing is expected to be entirely beneficial to manufacturers 
and importers using those plastics in accessible component parts 
because manufacturers and importers could forego testing they otherwise 
would be required to conduct. However, staff believes the magnitude of 
that benefit is uncertain and could depend on factors such as:
     The extent to which manufacturers have already reduced 
their testing costs by using component part testing (as allowed in 16 
CFR part 1109);
     the volume of children's toys and child care articles that 
contain PE, PP, HIPS, or ABS;
     whether importers who certify children's products are 
unsure what plastics are being used in the toys and child care articles 
they import, so they could not take advantage of the determinations 
without additional testing to assure that a component part is composed 
of one of the four plastics.
    The Commission welcomes comments on the potential impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities. Comments are especially welcome on the 
following topics:
     The extent to which PP, PE, HIPS, or ABS are used in 
children's toys and child care articles, especially those manufactured 
or imported by small firms;
     The potential reduction in third party testing costs that 
might be provided by the Commission making the determinations, 
including the extent to which component part testing is already being 
used;

[[Page 54762]]

     Any situations or conditions in the proposed rule that 
would make it difficult to make use of the determinations to reduce 
third party testing costs; and
     Although the Commission expects that the impact of the 
proposed rule will be entirely beneficial, any potential negative 
impacts of the proposed rule.

5. Other Federal Rules

    We have not identified any Federal rules that duplicate or conflict 
with the proposed rule.

6. Alternatives Considered To Reduce the Burden on Small Entities

    Under section 603(c) of the RFA, an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis should ``contain a description of any significant alternatives 
to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated objectives of the 
applicable statutes and which minimize any significant impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities.'' Because the proposed rule is 
intended to reduce the cost of third party testing on small businesses 
and will not impose any additional burden, the Commission did not 
consider alternatives to the proposed rule that would reduce the burden 
of this rule on small businesses.

G. Environmental Considerations

    The Commission's regulations provide a categorical exclusion for 
Commission rules from any requirement to prepare an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement because they ``have 
little or no potential for affecting the human environment.'' 16 CFR 
1021.5(c)(2). This rule falls within the categorical exclusion, so no 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required. 
The Commission's regulations state that safety standards for products 
normally have little or no potential for affecting the human 
environment. 16 CFR 1021.5(c)(1). Nothing in this rule alters that 
expectation.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1308

    Business and industry, Consumer protection, Imports, Infants and 
children, Product testing and certification, Toys.

0
Accordingly, the Commission proposes to amend Title 16 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations by adding part 1308 to read as follows:

PART 1308--PROHIBITION OF CHILDREN'S TOYS AND CHILD CARE ARTICLES 
CONTAINING SPECIFIED PHTHALATES: DETERMINATIONS REGARDING CERTAIN 
PLASTICS

Sec.
1308.1 Prohibited children's toys and child care articles containing 
specified phthalates and testing requirements.
1308.2 Determinations for specified plastics.

    Authority:  Sec. 3, Pub. L. 110-314, 122 Stat. 3016; 15 U.S.C. 
2063(d)(3)(B).


Sec.  1308.1  Prohibited children's toys and child care articles 
containing specified phthalates and testing requirements.

    Section 108(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 
2008 (CPSIA) permanently prohibits any children's toy or child care 
article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of di-(2-
ethylhexl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl 
phthalate (BBP). Section 108(b)(1) of the CPSIA prohibits on an interim 
basis any children's toy that can be placed in a child's mouth or child 
care article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of 
diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), or di-n-octyl 
phthalate (DnOP). Materials used in children's toys and child care 
articles subject to section 108(a) and (b)(1) of the CPSIA must comply 
with the third party testing requirements of section 14(a)(2) of the 
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), unless listed in Sec.  1308.2.


Sec.  1308.2  Determinations for specified plastics.

    (a) The following plastics do not exceed the phthalates content 
limits with a high degree of assurance as that term is defined in 16 
CFR part 1107:
    (1) Polypropylene (PP), with any of the following additives:
    (i) The plasticizers polybutenes, dioctyl sebacate, paraffinic oil, 
isooctyl tallate, mineral plasticizing oils, and polyol;
    (ii) Hydrocarbon solvents;
    (iii) Catalysts;
    (iv) Fillers;
    (v) Primary and secondary antioxidants;
    (vi) Neutralizing agents;
    (vii) Antistatic agents;
    (viii) Slip agents;
    (ix) Metal deactivators;
    (x) Quenchers;
    (xi) UV stabilizers;
    (xii) Nucleating agents;
    (xiii) Flame retardants;
    (xiv) Blowing or foaming agents;
    (xv) Antiblocking agents;
    (xvi) Lubricants; or
    (xvii) Colorants.
    (2) Polyethylene (PE), with any of the following additives:
    (i) The plasticizers glyceryl tribenzoate, polyethylene glycol, 
sunflower oil, paraffin wax, paraffin oil, mineral oil, glycerin, EPDM 
rubber, and EVA polymer;
    (ii) Initiators;
    (iii) Promoters;
    (iv) Catalysts;
    (v) Fillers;
    (vi) Antistatic agents;
    (vii) Flame retardants;
    (viii) Anti-blocking agents;
    (ix) Slip agents;
    (x) Blowing agents;
    (xi) Ccross-linking agents;
    (xii) Antioxidants;
    (xiii) Carbon black; or
    (xiv) Colorants.
    (3) High-impact polystyrene (HIPS), with any of the following 
additives:
    (i) Catalysts;
    (ii) Internal lubricants;
    (iii) Chain transfer/transition agents;
    (iv) Stabilizers;
    (v) Diluents;
    (vi) Colorants;
    (vii) Aluminum chloride, ethyl chloride, hydrochloric acid;
    (viii) Iron oxide, potassium oxide, chromium oxide; or
    (ix) Bifunctional peroxides.
    (4) Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), with any of the 
following additives:
    (i) The plasticizers phosphate esters, long chain fatty acid esters 
and aromatic sulfonamide;
    (ii) Hydrocarbon solvents
    (iii) Stabilizers;
    (iv) Lubricants;
    (v) Antioxidants;
    (vi) Molecular weight regulators;
    (vii) Initiators/catalysts,
    (viii) Activators;
    (ix) Emulsifiers; or
    (x) Colorants.
    (b) Accessible component parts of children's toys and child care 
articles made with the specified plastics, and specified additives, 
listed in paragraph (a) of this section are not required to be third 
party tested pursuant to section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA and 16 CFR part 
1107.
    (c) Accessible component parts of children's toys and child care 
articles made with a plastic or additives not listed in paragraph (a) 
of this section are required to be third party tested pursuant to 
section 14(a)(2) of the CPSA and 16 CFR part 1107.

    Dated: August 11, 2016.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016-19464 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6355-01-P