CPSC delays packaging rule enforcement
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Vitamin manufacturers have until Feb. 10, 2010, before the Consumer Product Safety Commission enforces testing and certification requirements under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. As of Nov. 12, 2008, firms that make products containing 250 mg or more of elemental iron - including many multivitamins - are required to certify that the packaging includes child-resistant closures as specified by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Before the rule went into effect, supplement industry stakeholders argued that manufacturers already comply with the rule through good manufacturing practices (1"The Tan Sheet" Nov. 10, 2008, p. 10). CPSC says Jan. 30 that the year stay of enforcement "provides some temporary, limited relief" to manufacturers of affected products. While the commission says it is working to clarify CPSIA requirements, a spokeswoman says the resulting rules and guidances will not deal with iron-containing supplements. Separately, four members of Congress, including House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., petitioned President Obama Feb. 3 to remove acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord and "appoint a new chairman who will vigorously and properly implement the CPSIA." The members' letter expresses concern over the safety of children's products
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