U.S. – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Window Covering Cords Issued by CPSC

Vol. 1289 | 22 Feb 2022

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued two notices of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on January 7, 2022. One Proposed rule would amend 16 CFR 1120, the substantial product hazard list, to designate stock window coverings a substantial product hazard (SPH) that fail to meet certain readily observable requirements. Under the proposed rule a stock window covering must meet all of the following readily observable requirements in order to not be a SPH:

• Have an operating cord that does not meet the requirements of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 section 4.3.1;
• An inner cord that does not meet the requirements of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 section 4.5, 6.3, 6.7 and appendices C and D; AND
• They do not have an on-product manufacturer label that meets the requirements of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 section 5.3.

This NPR would also amend 16 CRF 1120 to designate custom window coverings that do not meet the same inner cord requirements and on-product manufacturer label requirements as stock window coverings as a SPH.

The second NPR would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) Regulations, 16 CFR Chapter II Subchapter B, by adding Part 1260 – Safety Standard for Operating Cords on Custom Window Covering. This new part would establish a safety standard for custom window coverings that requires their operating cords to meet the same requirements as operating cords on stock window coverings established in ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018. This would make custom window coverings subject to the testing and certification requirements of section 14 of the CPSA.

The second NPR also would amend 16 CRF Part 1112, requirements pertaining to third party conformity assessment bodies, by adding a reference to 16 CFR part 1260 in 16 CRF 1112.15. This would have the effect of requiring third party testing by a CPSC accredited third-party conformity assessment body of the requirements of 16 CRF 1260 when custom window coverings meet the definition of a children’s product.

The CPSC is accepting comments on both these proposed rules until March 23, 2022.

These proposed rules can be viewed at:

• https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-01-07/pdf/2021-27897.pdf
• https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-01-07/pdf/2021-27896.pdf

For questions, please contact  Matthew Nudell (matthew.nudell@intertek.com, +1 716-225-9006) or Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1 847 212 8273)

Intertek is an industry leader present in 1,000 locations in over 100 countries to deliver Total Quality Assurance expertise 24/7. With testing and certification services to support clients and maintain products’ safety and performance attributes, Intertek works with our partners to provide the leadership and expertise needed to comply with laws, policies, and regulations that keep you ahead of changes and challenges.