WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted unanimously to lift the stay of enforcement on certification for compliance with the flammability standards for non-children's products in the following categories: vinyl plastic film, clothing textiles, carpets and rugs
- Vinyl plastic film
- Clothing textiles
- Carpets and rugs
General certificates of conformity (GCCs) will be required for the flammability standards for these three non-children's products starting on January 26, 2011 certifying that a manufacturer's products comply with these standards. GCCs do not need to be based on testing done by a third-party laboratory. Rather, certification testing can be done by the manufacturer of the product based on a test of each product or on a "reasonable testing program."
A GCC must accompany the product whether imported or manufactured in the United States and be furnished to the product's distributors and/or retailers. Firms must supply GCCs for their products to CPSC upon request.
The Commission's vote is intended to clarify the lifting of the stay of enforcement of the flammability standards with respect to these three non-children's products.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.