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USA: CPSC publishes the final rule on safety standard for crib mattresses

FEBRUARY 2022 - SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 15 February 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the U.S. published the final rule (16 CFR 1241) on safety standard for crib mattresses¹.  

The scope of this final rule includes the following types of crib mattresses

• full-size crib mattresses,
• non-full-size crib mattresses,
• after-market mattresses for play yards and non-full-size cribs. 

The final rule incorporates by reference the most recent version of the voluntary standard, “ASTM F2933-21- Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Crib Mattresses”, with certain modifications to make the standard more stringent to further reduce the risk of injury associated with crib mattresses. 

The modification in the rule includes –

1. incorporation of cyclic test for coil or spring lacerations - to reduce the risk of infant lacerations from the exposed coils and springs; 
2. incorporation of test for mattress compression from fitted sheets for full-size crib mattresses - to reduce the risk of injury associated with corner gap entrapment from compression; 
3. modification of dimensional performance requirements for full-size crib mattress, after-market non-full-size crib mattresses and for play yard to further reduce entrapment hazards; 
4. incorporation of mattress firmness test for all crib mattresses based on section 8 of AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 - to reduce the risk of infant suffocation associated with surface softness in crib mattresses. 
5. modifications on safety information including warning labels, packaging, and instructions.  

The CPSC further amends its regulations 16 CFR 1112, regarding the third-party conformity assessment bodies, to include the safety standard for crib mattresses (16 CFR 1241) in the list of notices of requirements (NORs). 

The CPSC also amends its rule 16 CFR 1130 to identify crib mattresses as a durable infant or toddler product subject to consumer registration requirements. 
This final rule will become effective from 15 August 2022

[1]  Federal Register 87 FR 8640