CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

USA: CPSC updates mandatory standard for baby changing products

APRIL 2022 - SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 26 April 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a direct final rule¹ for baby changing products for domestic use. This rule updates the mandatory standard for baby changing products to incorporate the reference to the latest version of ASTM F2388-21² with no modifications. Effective 31 July 2022, manufacturers of baby changing products must certify their products with the new standard.

ASTM F2388-18 was published back in March 2018. On 26 June 2018, the CPSC published a final rule³ that incorporated by reference ASTM F2388-18 into 16 CFR part 1235. The rule took effect on 26 June 2019. ASTM F2388-21 is the first revision of ASTM F2388 since the Commission adopted ASTM F2388-18 as the mandatory standard. 

ASTM made several minor and editorial changes throughout ASTM F2388-21. The two substantive changes are:

• The revisions to the figure depicting the webbing tension pull device clarify the test equipment dimensions without changing the specifications of the test tool or test method; and
• The change to the capitalisation of the warning text

On 1 February 2022, ASTM notified CPSC that it published a revised 2021 version of ASTM F2388 that affects the requirements for baby changing products. CPSC Staff determined that those changes are collectively improvements on safety and therefore recommended the Commission allows the revised voluntary standard to become the consumer product safety standard for baby changing products under section 104 of the CPSIA. 

[1]  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 80 / 26 April 2022

[2]  ASTM F2388-21

[3]  First publication on safety standard for baby changing products, June 2018