[Federal Register: March 21, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 55)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15133]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

 
Petition Requesting Rule Declaring Natural Rubber Latex a Strong 
Sensitizer

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission has received a petition from Debi Adkins, 
editor of Latex Allergy News, requesting that the Commission issue a 
rule declaring that natural rubber latex (``NRL'') and products 
containing NRL are strong sensitizers under the Federal Hazardous 
Substances Act (``FHSA''). The Commission solicits written comments 
concerning the petition.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary should receive comments on the 
petition by May 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, on the petition should 
be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, or 
delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by 
telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. 
Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 00-2, Petition on Natural 
Rubber Latex.'' A copy of the petition is available for inspection at 
the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 419, 4330 East-West Highway, 
Bethesda, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; 
telephone (301) 504-0800, ext. 1232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received correspondence 
from Debi Adkins, editor of Latex Allergy News, that requests the 
Commission to declare that natural rubber latex (``NRL'') and products 
containing NRL are strong sensitizers under the Federal Hazardous 
Substances Act (``FHSA''). The petitioner asserts that a portion of the 
population has developed an allergy to NRL that can cause serious 
allergic reactions, even death. NRL may be in such consumer products as 
gloves, adhesives, shoes, balloons, pacifiers, and carpet backing, as 
well as many medical products. Ms. Adkins asks the Commission to add 
NRL and products containing NRL to its list of strong sensitizers so 
that these products would require labeling. The Commission is docketing 
the correspondence as a petition under provisions of the FHSA, 15 
U.S.C. 1261-1277.
    Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition by writing or 
calling the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800. A copy of 
the petition is also available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, in the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 
419, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

    Dated: March 15, 2000.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 00-6874 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P