The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously today to amend the regulations for adult wearing apparel made of fabrics exempt from testing under the U.S. Flammable Fabrics Act. The Commission will send a notice to the federal register informing them that manufacturers and importers of adult wearing apparel will no longer be required to obtain a certificate from the CPSC. The new regulations allow the Commission to exercise enforcement discretion in regards to exempt fabrics and would allow those fabrics to circumvent unnecessary certification.
The list of exempt fabrics includes those that make up a majority of adult apparel (some listed were wool, acrylic, and polyester). The sole function of the required certificates was to reinstate the exemption. As it is well known that these fabrics are safe, the certification has little value. By removing the certification requirement for exempt fabrics, the commission would save around $250 million annually and remove the administrative burden from businesses. The Commission made clear that this amendment would only apply to exempt fabrics, and that the agency can choose to withdraw the amendment if unsafe products begin to enter the market.
SGIA will continue to monitor activity on this important legislative initiative. Sign up to receive the most up-to-date regulatory and legislative information about specialty imaging.