[Federal Register: March 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 61)]
[Notices]
[Page 16526-16527]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr04-46]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request--Safety
Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments
on a proposed request for an extension of approval of a collection of
information from manufacturers and importers of multi-purpose lighters.
Multi-purpose lighters are hand-held flame-producing products that
operate on fuel and have an ignition mechanism. They typically are used
to light devices such as charcoal and gas grills and fireplaces.
Devices intended primarily for igniting smoking materials are excluded
from the multi-purpose lighter category.
This collection of information consists of testing and
recordkeeping requirements in certification regulations implementing
the Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters. 16 CFR part 1212. The
Commission will consider all comments received in response to this
notice before requesting an extension of approval of this collection of
information from the Office of Management and Budget.
DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not
later than June 1, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ``Multi-Purpose
Lighters'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or delivered to that office,
room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Written
comments may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary by facsimile
at (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this proposed
extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a
copy of 16 CFR part 1212, call or write Linda L. Glatz, Office of
Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-7671.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1999, the Commission issued the Safety
Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters (16 CFR part 1212) under provisions
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) (15 U.S.C. 2051-2084) to
eliminate or reduce risks of death and burn injury from fires
accidentally started by children playing with these lighters. The
standard contains performance requirements for multi-purpose lighters
that are intended to make lighters subject to the standard resist
operation by children younger than five years of age.
A. Certification Requirements
Section 14(a) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2063(a)) requires
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of a consumer product
subject to a consumer product safety standard to issue a certificate
stating that the product complies with all applicable consumer product
safety standards. Section 14(a) of the CPSA also requires that the
certificate of compliance must be based on a test of each product or
upon a reasonable testing program.
Section 14(b) of the CPSA authorizes the Commission to issue
regulations to prescribe a reasonable testing program to support
certificates of compliance with a consumer product safety standard.
Section 16(b) of the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2065(b)) authorizes the Commission
to issue rules to require that firms ``establish and maintain'' records
to permit the Commission to determine compliance with rules issued
under the authority of the CPSA.
The Commission has issued regulations prescribing requirements for
a reasonable testing program to support certificates of compliance with
the
[[Page 16527]]
standard for multi-purpose lighters. These regulations require
manufacturers and importers to submit a description of each model of
lighter, results of prototype qualification tests for compliance with
the standard, and other information before the introduction of each
model of lighter into commerce. These regulations also require
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose
lighters to establish and maintain records to demonstrate successful
completion of all required tests to support the certificates of
compliance that they issue. 16 CFR part 1212, subpart B.
The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by
manufacturers, importers, and private labelers of multi-purpose
lighters to protect consumers from risks of accidental deaths and burn
injuries associated with those lighters. More specifically, the
Commission uses this information to determine whether lighters comply
with the standard by resisting operation by young children. The
Commission also uses this information to obtain corrective actions if
multipurpose lighters fail to comply with the standard in a manner that
creates a substantial risk of injury to the public.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the collection
of information in the certification regulations for multi-purpose
lighters under control number 3041-0130. OMB's approval will expire on
July 31, 2004. The Commission proposes to request an extension of
approval without change for these collection of information
requirements.
B. Estimated Burden
The cost of the rule's testing, reporting, recordkeeping, and other
certification-related provisions is comprised of time spent by testing
organizations on behalf of manufacturers and importers, and time spent
by firms to prepare, maintain and submit records to CPSC. There are an
estimated 100 firms involved. Currently the Commission believes that
there may be as many as 200 different models of multi-purpose lighters
on the market. With a few exceptions, most manufacturers and importers
have more than one model. Each manufacturer would spend approximately
50 hours per model. Therefore, the total annual amount of time that
will be required for complying with the testing, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements of the rule is approximately 10,000 hours. (100
firms x two models x 50 hours = 10,000 hours.) The annualized cost to
industry for the 10,000 hour burden for collection of information is
$244,800 based on an estimated hourly wage of $24.48/hr for the testing
and recordkeeping required by the regulation.
C. Request for Comments
The Commission solicits written comments from all interested
persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission
specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics:
Whether the collection of information described
above is necessary for the proper performance of the Commission's
functions, including whether the information would have practical
utility;
Whether the estimated burden of the proposed
collection of information is accurate;
Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected could be enhanced; and
Whether the burden imposed by the collection of
information could be minimized by use of automated, electronic or other
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information
technology.
Dated: March 25, 2004.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-7086 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P