CPSIA – New Definition of "Children’s Product" Published – Did You Catch It?

The CPSC apparently published a new definition of “Children’s Products” last Tuesday in the Federal Register to no fanfare whatsoever. This little morsel clocks in at only nine pages but it goes in the heap with the other 579 unread pages of miscellania spewed out by the CPSC in the last month. Everyone – quit your jobs so you can keep reading this stuff!

Ah, but the fun doesn’t end there. Try to find this document on the vaunted CPSC website. It’s not under “What’s Hot?” and it wasn’t mentioned in a press release. Until last week, even finding the definition of “Children’s Product” on the site involved quite a bit of hunting and pecking. They remedied that by creating a new category under “CPSIA by Topic” but who would know it’s there? You have to sense its presence and then go find it. This is “Where’s Waldo?”, CPSC-style.

And the final “kicker” – the definition changed from the last publication of this rule on March 19. Since that time, there has been a Commission hearing and much industry chit-chat over the original definition approved by the CPSC Legal Department. Supposedly, this (unread) new definition reflects changes that I am told I will like. The CPSC Legal Department approved this new and revised definition, too. And the conformed or redlined copy for me to read? Nowhere to be found.

What a lovely way to spend my time. Reading rules, digesting rules, commenting on rules, rereading rules, trying to figure out what’s changed, reviewing my last analysis, connecting all the dots, reworking our internal processes again and again and again . . . .

This is the CPSC’s full employment plan. They may be able to solve the unemployment problem all by themselves! Thanks for everything, guys.

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CPSIA – New Definition of "Children’s Product" Published – Did You Catch It?