View Rule

The Commission received a petition from a group of nine organizations representing consumer groups, safety consultants, and legal counsel: Parents for Window Blind Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Kids in Danger, Public Citizen, U.S. PIRG, Independent Safety Consulting, Safety Behavior Analysis, Inc., and Onder, Shelton, O'Leary & Peterson. The petition requested that the Commission initiate proceedings to promulgate a mandatory standard to eliminate accessible cords on window covering products. The request was docketed on June 26, 2013, as Petition CP 13-2, under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The petition asserts that a mandatory rule is necessary because attempts to develop a voluntary standard that adequately mitigates the risk of injury associated with window covering cords have been unsuccessful. On July 2, 2013, the Commission voted unanimously to approve publication in the Federal Register of a notice soliciting comments on the petition. The notice was published on July 15, 2013. The comment period closed on September 13, 2013. After reviewing the comments, staff prepared for Commission consideration a briefing package on the petition. On October 8, 2014, the Commission voted unanimously to accept CPSC staff's recommendation to approve the petition. On January 9, 2015, the Commission voted unanimously to approve publication of the draft ANPRM for corded window coverings, with changes, in the Federal Register. The ANPRM begins a rulemaking proceeding under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) to address the risk of strangulation to young children that is associated with corded window covering products. After assessing comments, staff will prepare an NPRM briefing package for the Commission. A draft Federal Register Notice to extend the ANPR comment period was forwarded to the Commission on March 10, 2015. On March 16, 2015, the Commission voted to publish notice extending the comment period to June 1, 2015. The Federal Register Notice announcing the extension of the comment period published on March 23, 2015. The comment period closed on June 1, 2015. Staff will prepare an NPRM briefing package for Commission consideration.