U.S. – CPSC Proposes 16 CFR 1229 Safety Standard for Infant Bouncer Seats

Vol. 866 | 28 Oct 2015

As part of the rulemaking process required by the Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing a new federal regulation: 16 CFR 1229 Safety Standard for Infant Bouncer Seats. The proposed rule is based on the existing ASTM standard F2167 – 15 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bouncer Seats, with modifications to the warning label requirements.

An “Infant Bouncer Seat” as defined in the ASTM standard is “a freestanding product intended to support an occupant in a reclined position to facilitate bouncing by the occupant, with the aid of a caregiver or by other means.” The standard also clarifies the use for the product to be for ages 0-6 months, with the developmental milestone as when a child can sit up unassisted.

Key safety issues addressed by the ASTM F2167-15 standard include:

• Restraint performance requirements
• Stability in the forward, rearward and sideward orientations
• Static and dynamic slip resistance
• Structural integrity under static and dynamic loads
• Drop test
• Battery compartment markings and performance

To improve the effectiveness of the warning labels on bouncers in reducing the number of fatalities and injuries associated with the product category, the CPSC has recommended the following modifications to the ASTM F2167-15 standard:

• Adding text to require the use of restraints “..even if the baby is sleeping..”
• Changing warning to stop using the product when “baby starts trying to sit up” rather than current warning to stop when “a child able to sit up unassisted”
• Revising distance and evaluation criteria for the fall hazard label visibility test
• Standardizing formatting for the labels on the product as well as in the instructions

The CPSC has proposed that the rule become effective 6 months after the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register. The CPSC is accepting comments on the proposed rule until January 4, 2016.

The Proposed Rule can be viewed at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-10-19/pdf/2015-26386.pdf

 

For questions, please contact Laxmi Ravikumar (laxmi.ravikumar@intertek.com, +1-630-209-9265).