[Federal Register: August 1, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 148)]
[Notices]               
[Page 39737]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au01-39]                         


[[Page 39737]]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

 
Petition Requesting Rule Requiring Product Registration Cards for 
Products Intended for Children

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has received a petition (CP 01-01) requesting 
that the Commission issue a rule requiring product registration cards 
accompany every product intended for use by children. The Commission 
solicits written comments concerning the petition.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments on the 
petition by October 1, 2001.

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 501, 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 CP 01-01, Petition for Product 
Registration Cards.'' 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 the Consumer Federation of America (``CFA'') requesting that the 
Commission issue a rule ``requiring manufacturers (or distributors, 
retailers, or importers) of products intended for children provide 
along with every product a Consumer Registration Card that allows the 
purchaser to register information, through the mail or 
electronically.'' CFA also requested that the Commission issue rules 
requiring that (1) the remedy for recalls of products intended for 
children remain in effect indefinitely or as long as the affected 
company is in business and (2) identification information be 
permanently provided on every product intended for children. These 
requests have not been docketed as petitions at this time.
    CFA requested that the Commission take action under section 10 of 
the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA''), 15 U.S.C. 1269(a). 
However, the General Counsel believes that the more appropriate 
authority for product registration cards is section 16(b) of the 
Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), id. 2065(b), and has docketed 
the petition under that provision of the CPSA.
    The petitioner states that a registration card system would improve 
the effectiveness of recalls because it would enable a manufacturer to 
contact the purchaser directly if a product were recalled or otherwise 
presented a safety hazard. CFA examined existing consumer warranty or 
registration cards included with some new products. CFA found that 
often these cards do not state that they could be used to provide 
notice of recalls, are primarily used to collect marketing and consumer 
data, rarely provide pre-paid postage, and generally do not protect 
consumer privacy.
    The petitioner states that a Commission rule should require a 
system in which registration cards (1) collect only information needed 
to contact the purchaser (e.g., name and address or email address); (2) 
have the postage paid by the manufacturer (distributor, retailer, or 
importer); (3) provide the name and model number of the product 
purchased; and (4) state that the information collected will only be 
used to advise the purchaser of a recall or other important safety 
information. The petitioner asks that the rule require the manufacturer 
(or distributor, retailer, or importer) to maintain this information 
for a minimum of 20 years, or the useful life of the product, whichever 
is longer. CFA also asks that the rule require manufacturers (or 
distributors, retailers, or importers) provide reports to CPSC on the 
return rate of these cards.
    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: July 26, 2001.
Todd Stevenson,
Acting Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 01-19073 Filed 7-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P