The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced it plans to propose a rule under Section 8 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) to ban consumer patching (spackling) compounds containing asbestos or asbestiform tremolitic talc, as well as artifical gas-burning fireplace logs and ashes containing asbestos. According to the CPSC, asbestos can be a cancer-causing substance and has been shown to be harmful to humans if inhaled.
This banning action by the Commission follows regulatory actions previously taken by EPA, OSHA and FDA that are intended to limit the exposure of the public to asbestos in working and other situations. Additional actions by CPSC and these other agencies will likely be needed in the future in order to adequately deal with the problem. Should additional facts that heighten the sense of urgency come to light during the Section 8 procedure, the Commission could easily accelerate the pace of its regulation by an imminent hazard action under Section 12 CPSA.
Details of the proposal will be published soon in the Federal Register. After receiving comments on the proposed ban, the Commission will then decide whether to put the ban into effect.
The Commission's intent to ban these usage of asbestos was announced yesterday but it was not until today that a majority of the Commissioners agreed on which statutory route to follow.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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