US CPSC to Amend the Supplemental Definition of “Strong Sensitizer”

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently approved publication of a final rule (1) in the Federal Register that amended 16 CFR 1500 to revise the supplemental definition of “strong sensitizer” under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
 
FAIRFIELD, N.J. - May 14, 2014 - PRLog -- US CPSC Approves Final Rule on “Strong Sensitizer” Definition

The original “strong sensitizer” definition was established under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1961. The 1961 definition listed five substances that the FDA had determined met the statutory definition for “strong sensitizer”, published at that time as 16 CFR 1500.13:

(a) Paraphenylenediamine and products containing it.
(b) Powdered orris root and products containing it.
(c) Epoxy resins systems containing in any concentration ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and diglycidyl ethers of molecular weight less than 200.
(d) Formaldehyde and products containing 1 percent or more of formaldehyde.
(e) Oil of bergamot and products containing 2 percent or more of oil of bergamot.

There have been no additions to the original 1961 list.

In 1986, under the CPSC, a supplemental definition was added to clarify the interpretation of the original definition and the factors that would be considered in determining whether a substance is a “strong sensitizer”.  These have basically remained unchanged since that time.

Due to changes in technology and the science related to sensitization since the original definitions had been established, a panel of experts convened by the CPSC in 2005, was tasked with examining the available scientific and medical information concerning sensitizers and proposing revisions to the supplemental definition.  Based on input from that panel a technical report was drafted by CPSC staff outlining proposed revisions to the supplemental definition.  Between 2007 and 2008 the technical report underwent considerable scientific peer and federal agency review, eventually culminating in the updated supplemental definition in a proposed final rule (https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/03/12/2013-...) published 12 March, 2013.

The final rule as published in the Federal Register became effective 17 March, 2014 and the complete revised supplemental definition can be read in 16 CFR 1500.3(c)(5) (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9aa08b5b1a231e63...   ).

Changes in the Supplemental Definition

The revised definition of “strong sensitizer” achieves the following:

- eliminates redundancy,
- removes certain subjective factors,
- incorporates new and anticipated technology,
- places the criteria for classification of strong sensitizers in the order of importance,
- defines criteria for “severity of reaction”, and
- provides for the use of a weight-of-evidence approach to determine whether a substance is a “strong sensitizer”.

The Commission has issued a guidance document (http://www.cpsc.gov/Global/Regulations-Laws-and-Standards... ) to clarify each component of the revised “strong sensitizer” supplemental definition to assist manufacturers in determining whether a substance or product should be considered as a “strong sensitizer” and how the Commission would make such a determination (4).

References:

(1) Final Rule: Revisions to Supplemental Definition of “Strong Sensitizer”  http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Federal-Register-Notices/2014/Hazardous-Substances-and-Articles-Administration-and-Enforcement-Regulations-Final-Rule-Revisions-to-Supplemental-Definition-of-Strong-Sensitizer/

About SGS Services for Toys and Juvenile Products

SGS is committed to providing information about developments in the regulations for consumer products as a complimentary service. Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Toys/Testing/Physical-and-Mechanical-Tests.aspx), analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

Fred Mills-Winkler
Technical Director, Toys
SGS – North America
291 Fairfield Avenue,
Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA

t: +1 973 575 5252 ext. 22038
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/toys

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