CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

USA: Federal standard for sling carriers updated

AUGUST 2022 - SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 19 August 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a direct final rule¹ allowing ASTM F2907-22 to become a consumer product safety standard for sling carriers under 16 CFR Part 1228, while retaining the additional requirement for warning label attachment. The updated standard will apply from 19 November unless the Commission receives significant adverse comments by 19 September, in which case it will withdraw the direct final rule before its effective date.

ASTM F2907-22² incorporates all the revisions from ASTM F2907-21 and corrects the conflict in the pictogram shown on the example warning label (Figure 6) with the example positioning pictogram (Figure 5). CPSC staff noted that neither 16 CFR part 1228, nor ASTM F2907-22 requires manufacturers to use the specific pictogram shown in Figures 5 and 6. Rather, both simply require that a pictogram comparing proper and improper infant positioning for one or two occupants, depending on the design of the product, be included. The pictogram shown in Figures 5 and 6 is merely an example.

Warning Label Attachment
The Commission retained the additional warning requirement when it promulgated the safety standard for sling carriers, and again, when it incorporated by reference, the updated version of the ASTM standard in F2907-19. In addition to complying with section 5.7.2 of ASTM F2907-22 with small part requirements of non-paper labels, comply with the following: 
"(1) 5.7.3 Warning labels that are attached to the fabric with seams shall remain in contact with the fabric around the entire perimeter of the label, when the sling is in all manufacturer recommended use positions."

The Commission added this requirement because removing or altering these labels would eliminate the potential safety benefit of the label, and the Commission determined that the additional attachment requirement would improve safety. ASTM F2907-22, does not include the additional requirement for warning label attachment, as required under 16 CFR Part 1228. Staff concludes that this requirement remains appropriate. Therefore, CPSC staff recommends retaining this requirement in 16 CFR Part 1228.2(b), referencing ASTM F2907-22, rather than ASTM F2907-19.

[1]  Federal Register/Vol. 87, No. 160, 19 August 2022

[2]  ASTM F2970-22