The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today granted a petition to begin regulatory proceedings leading to a ban of certain fluorocarbons in aerosols.
The Connnission said that on the basis of information available, it appears that certain fluorocarbon propellants present an unreasonable risk of injury to consumers from the destruction of the ozone layer and that no feasible consumer product safety standard could adequately protect the public.
CPSC, which has jurisdiction over some aerosol products such as household cleaners, was petitioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to begin a regulatory proceeding to ban fluorocarbons as a propellant in aerosol products.
The Commission is instructing its staff to prepare a notice banning aerosol consumer products containing the compounds dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane and other fluorocarbon compounds with similar physical and chemical properties as propellants. The products would be banned hazardous products based on the risk of injury caused by destruction of ozone in the stratosphere.
In its decision, the Commission said it recognized that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the newly-enacted Toxic Substances Control Act, plans to propose regulatory action with respect to the non-essential uses of certain chlorofluorocarbon propellants by April 26, 1977. Therefore, if EPA proposes a rule within a reasonable period of time and proceeds with regulatory action which would render action by the Commission under the present petitions unnecessary to protect consumers from the risk of injury caused by the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere, the Commission at some future date, may terminate its proceeding.
"The Commission's staff is directed to cooperate closely with the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which have announced their intention to phase out the non-essential uses of fluorocarbons in products under their jurisdiction," the Commission decision said.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death 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. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
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