[Federal Register: February 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 6052]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08fe99-44]

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Identification of Purchasers of Certain Products; Public Forum

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public forum.

SUMMARY: On March 23, 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'') staff will convene a public forum to explore how recall effectiveness could be enhanced by increased efforts to identify purchasers of consumer products through product registration, warranty cards or other means. The staff seeks written comments and oral presentations from individuals, associations, firms, and government agencies with information relevant to this topic. In addition, the staff is setting up panels of presenters made up of representatives of federal agencies that use product registration for recalls, industry members that use product registration cards, and consumer organizations.

DATES: The forum will commence at 9:30 a.m. on March 23, 1999. Requests to make oral presentations, and the text of the presentations, must be received by the Office of the Secretary no later than February 26, 1999. Persons planning to make presentations at the forum should submit 10 copies of the text of their prepared remarks to the Office of the Secretary no later than February 26 1999, and provide an additional 50 copies for dissemination on the date of the forum. Written comments that are in place of, or in addition to, oral presentations must be received by the Office of the Secretary no later than March 5, 1999. Written comments must include the author's affiliation with, or employment or sponsorship by, any professional organization, government agency, or business firm. The staff reserves the right to limit the number of persons who participate and the duration of their presentations.

ADDRESSES: The forum will be in Room 420, CPSC's Hearing Room of the East-West Towers Building, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD. Written comments, requests to make oral presentations, and texts of oral presentations should be captioned ``Purchaser Identification'' and mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to that office, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments, requests, and texts of oral presentations may also be filed by telefacsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Hershman, Compliance Officer, Recalls and Compliance Division, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0608, extension 1356; fax (301) 504-0359; or Melissa Hampshire, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C.; telephone (301) 504-0980, extension 2208; fax (301) 504-0403. For information about the schedule for submission of written comments, requests to make oral presentations, and submission of texts of oral presentations, call or write Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800, extension 1232; fax (301) 504-0127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The staff believes that recall notification could be facilitated if manufacturers were better able to identify the purchasers of their products. More effective recall notification could lead to a higher proportion of products returned for refund, repair or replacement. This, in turn, would enhance the safety of American consumers.

The staff has identified a number of issues:

The staff expects to explore these and other related issues during the forum.

Some companies have been highly successful in assembling purchaser information through use of warranty cards or other means. These companies have been able to use this information to achieve commendable return rates in the event of a recall. The staff particularly solicits participation from such companies.

The staff also is aware that in certain instances, companies are required by law to collect purchaser information. For example, by regulation the Department of Transportation has facilitated the collection of such information pertaining to car seats. 49 CFR Part 588. The staff solicits participation of car seat manufacturers, who could provide pertinent information about their experience with registration cards. Similarly, by law, certain manufacturers of medical devices must track their purchasers. 21 U.S.C. 360i(e). We solicit input from such manufacturers, as well as from any manufacturer required by federal, state or local law to identify product purchasers and maintain that information for some period of time. The Commission is conducting this inquiry under Section 27(a) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2076(a).

Dated: February 2, 1999.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 99-2844 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-U